A SYSTEMS-THEORETICAL REPRESENTATION OF TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR CONNECTIONS

Abstract

This paper proposes a systems-theoretical representation of technologies. A technology is represented as an efficient input-output (I/O) system in the sense of mathematical systems theory, where the I/O system transforms the inputs provided for it through the input channels of it into the outputs, which are outputted from it through the output channels of it. This paper also provides a definition of connections of I/O systems as a way to construct a bigger I/O system from smaller I/O systems. Of course it is not always true that a connection of I/O systems is a technology. It can be verified, however, that a connection of technologies is always a technology. In this paper a mathematical verification of this fact is provided.