Rhythm, Difference, and Information

Scale-Free Analysis of Dynamic Systems

Andrew Lucia for LabStudio, University of Pennsylvania

How is information generated? When does raw data become information? These studies establish a foundation for information generation from the advent of rhythm and difference within abstract spatiotemporal data arrays using custom written algorithms.

Applying concepts from Systems and Information theory, the structure of aggregated temporal events across a field are made visually legible, thus revealing the underlying information structures through time. Initial studies have already revealed these event-structures using standard information calculations, and variations thereof, giving higher significance to rare events (shown here).

Information content of rare events within dynamic cellular environment.
Cellular films courtesy of Jones Lab, University of Pennyvlania.

Information content of rare events within a visual data array as an observer moves through a hallway. Moderate-event information mapping (left) & rare-event information mapping (right).

Rhythm, Difference and Information

sample video 1 :: Moving observer with stationary environment
sample video 2 :: Stationary observer with dynamic environment
sample video 3 :: Stationary observer with dynamic environment