Some Aspects of Propagation

Operators Are Not Functions Network operators rarely behave as functions - they can have multiple outputs a range can turn into a domain some operator pairs cooperate topology is altered direction is locally determined they can destroy themselves

Multiple Simultaneous Outputs AND The SPINE operator behaves as an AND, so setting an environment can communicate a state to thousands of statements

Range to Domain ABS -5 5 ABS -5,5 5 Some operators reverse the operation of functions

Turning It Around + Some operators receive a message, and immediately send a consistent reduced message back along the same path

Operator Cooperation Some operator pairs cooperate strongly - FOR/GETPUT ACTIVITY/RESOURCE DISTRIB/RELATION Some of these use spreading activation rather than message passing

X=5 =+ List Link = B=9 C=3A% D List Link Altering Connections The LISTLINK operator alters the topology of the network

X =+ B C D B=9 C=3 X=5 D=-7 + Flow on Connection The LISTLINK detaches itself and links the variables directly to the PLUS, at which point information flows in whichever direction the arrows indicate List Link A% List Link

Creative Destruction Operators can represent objects, which are created and destroyed

Phasing of operations in a network can be a considerable problem, because of the network’s unpredictable transmission delays. This problem is exacerbated when a single processor is emulating a network of autonomous cells or agents. One way around this is to add connections - to change the topology.

Alternative Tags The initial tag values arrive at the operator - there are two alternatives on the right hand side PARSE Article Noun/ Verb “The” “quake”

Alternative Tags The verb tag alternative is pruned, as the verb could not be preceded by an article. There is now a possibility to detect a noun phrase, which requires that all the nodes to be checked have singular values. But how long before the new value reaches the node? PARSE Article Noun/ Verb “The” “quake”

Alternative Tags Forming a new connection to the node at the same time as propagating the value in the link guarantees the value has reached the node before the operator triggers the search for a noun phrase. PARSE Article Noun/ Verb “The” “quake”

Alternative Tags The state from the node triggers the operator to search for a noun phrase. PARSE Article Noun/ Verb “The” “quake”

Throwing a Connection Instead of using a timer, we can create a connection to tell us exactly when we can restart Problem: We have been prompted to search, but one connection is not ready - how do we restart when it is ready Solution: Make a connection, wait for the change of state to tell us it is ready - use the connection paradigm and extend it

Back Connections Forming back-connections is a powerful way of phasing operations in a network - whether in a computer or in a person’s head

Why a Structure? The activity in the structure, and its continual self-modification, would make the life of any outside algorithm very difficult IF A > 5 THEN BEGIN IF B = 3 THEN BEGIN PROC_C