Blog 3 - Signal Detection and Info Theory
- rijly A
- Oct 10, 2021
- 1 min read
Updated: Oct 10, 2021
As an essential branch of information theory, Signal Detection Theory is about how people make decisions when they are uncertain.
SDT believes that human perception has no physiological limitations, and there is no actual sensory threshold. If subjects have obstacles to the perception of the existence of a stimulus or the difference between two stimuli, such blocks mainly come from internal and external interference signals.
In other words, we can theoretically perceive all sounds and images as long as they exist, but because we receive internal and external distractions, we can't experience the real world.
Unlike machines or systems, internal interference can be set and functionally limited. How can we humans reduce interference signals from within?
Psychology may have the answer. Meditation and Zen seem to reduce these distractions and, to some extent, improve our perception.
As software increasingly performs an increasing range of routine and repetitive tasks, human resources are likely to focus on automating complex skills, especially those requiring creative or emotional engagement and social interaction. I think in the inevitable automation trend, all we can do is treat ourselves better and stay in a good mental state, and try best to avoid internal distractions.
I've attached some papers below for you to learn more.
What do Data Automation and Mindfulness Have In Common?
Using Meditation to Reprogram Your Mind
Hi Liheng! I really enjoyed reading the first article you attached, as I wrote about a very similar topic in my last blog post about automation. I took the same perspective on automation, arguing that as more mundane and repetitive tasks become automated, we as humans get more freedom to engage in creative pursuits. It's really interesting to see how two seemingly opposing ideas (automation and spirituality/meditation) can actually encourage one another. I definitely agree that meditation and mindfulness can coexist with automation.
This is such an interesting take on Signal Detection Theory. I hadn't considered the role that mindfulness or meditation could play in perception, and how that could impact someone's performance in SDT-style tasks. I agree that mindfulness is continuously becoming more essential as automation increases.