Introduction

Perceptual Control and Human Data Fusion

Martin Taylor Outline: Human Data Fusion 1. Introduction to concepts of Perceptual Control Theory.2. The Perceptual Control Hierarchy: Conflict and Learning.3. Information overload and modes of human perception.4. Side Effects of Perceptual Control: Stealth and […]

Bill Powers

Modeling systems

William T. Powers (2009) We hear quite a lot about models such as weather models which can be used to predict what will happen in the next few days, or models of colliding galaxies which […]

Introduction

Quick guide to getting started with PCT

Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) has been around for over 50 years, leaving a trail of papers, books, websites, posts, conversations, videos all over the web. This is a quick guide to get started with the most basic materials: introductory texts, books, demonstrations, papers, websites and finding others interested in PCT. Welcome! […]

Bill Powers

A New Muscle Model

If you are going to reverse engineer and then simulate living organisms and how they move about, it is important to simulate all the physics correctly, such as the ray tracing included in the Little Man. Here is a paper that offers significant improvements regarding simulating the actions of muscles. […]

Bill Powers

Perceptual Control Theory at 40

This intro to PCT is slanted toward those coming into to this subject from the physical sciences. Bill Powers develops an argument that leads from conventional views of behavior to the new view that PCT gives us, emphasizing in the end the odd role that organisms, seen through the eyes of PCT, play in a world otherwise dominated by physical laws. The point will be to show that control theory provides us with the germ of a radically new understanding, a break with all traditional theories of behavior—and many new ones as well […]