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Stop and Think for a Second - Control Loops

Is there one thing that comes to mind when you stop and think?

I've written about stopping and thinking a while ago, and if I wasn't so lazy I'd link that post, but I honestly don't remember what it was even called.

*Pretend to read aforementioned post* 

All 4 of you who read: "Wow, nice post Jay, can't wait to finish this one!"

Thanks guys..


For whatever reason, lately, it has been the control loops our brains go through to perform simple, or even insanely complex tasks that I've been thinking about. I get a little excited (I do recognize how lame this will sound) when I think of a PLC. A PLC is essentially a simplified electronic version of the control loops I'm talking about, that for example, controls the heating and cooling inside your house. It's rather simple, a thermocouple (a slightly better thermometer, or an RTD if you're fancy) measures the temperature. A small computer reads it, compares it to the setpoint, and adjusts the heating or cooling accordingly. Again, this is the most simple PLC I can think of. By the way, PLC stands for programmable logic controller. Today you learned.

Your brain does this too. I'm no neuroscientist, but my articulate and excellently laid out description of the phenomenon should help you understand (that's a plain lie, wouldn't be surprised if you clicked over to facebook at this point because that's real entertainment..). 

Ok, so brains. Yes, we all have them, although, it's questionable sometimes *cough* Election 2016 *cough*. 

Think about picking up a water bottle on a table. You're standing a foot away. Let's walk through step by step as if I was a brain.

1. Eyes look at bottle. - Fun fact, your eyes see the bottle upside down and your brain flips the image!
2. Brain sends signal to arm to move toward the bottle.
3. Brain coordinates the image from eye and motion of arm.
4. Brain checks if hand has touched bottle yet. 
5. If hand is touching bottle, grab, if not, keep going.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until bottle is in hand.
7. Bring bottle to face.
8. If bottle is at face, drink, if not, keep going.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until bottle is in mouth.
10. If satisfied, put bottle down, if not, keep drinking.

(Repeat process in reverse (kind of) for putting bottle down). Is bracket inception acceptable? 

That whole process takes 3 seconds. LIKE WHAT!?

The simplest task I could think of and your brain runs that for every single thing you do every single day. Imagine how complex the control loop is for driving a car! 

Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about while not studying. 

Also, I spelled brain, "brian" at least 7 times in this short post. I'm slightly exhausted from the studying this week.

So just remember, take a minute once and awhile. Stop and think. 

J

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