- Definition: Cybernetics is an interdisciplinary field that studies the structure and function of regulatory systems—their communication, control, and feedback principles—especially in electronic and mechanical systems. It often applies these principles to various complex systems like machines, organisms, and social organizations.
- Etymology: The term comes from the Greek word “kybernetes,” meaning steersman, governor, or pilot, and was first used in this context by Norbert Wiener in the 1940s.
- Origin: Cybernetics originated in the 1940s, evolving from earlier work on control systems and telecommunications. Norbert Wiener, an American mathematician, is credited with founding the field. It initially focused on electronic and mechanical systems but has since expanded to include a wide range of systems including biological and social.
Cybernetics: Defining the Science of Communication and Control Systems
