324:
708:
568:
517:
249:
53:
776:
624:
759:
A further example of the Black Box principle is the treatment of mental patients. The human brain is certainly a Black Box, and while a great deal of neurological research is going on to understand the mechanism of the brain, progress in treatment is also being made by observing patients' responses
745:
The child who tries to open a door has to manipulate the handle (the input) so as to produce the desired movement at the latch (the output); and he has to learn how to control the one by the other without being able to see the internal mechanism that links them. In our daily lives we are confronted
646:
are those theories defined only in terms of their function. The term can be applied in any field where some inquiry is made into the relations between aspects of the appearance of a system (exterior of the black box), with no attempt made to explain why those relations should exist (interior of the
477:
Thus, every system, fundamentally, is investigated by the collection of a long protocol, drawn out in time, showing the sequence of input and output states. From this there follows the fundamental deduction that all knowledge obtainable from a Black Box (of given input and output) is such as can be
654:
Specifically, the inquiry is focused upon a system that has no immediately apparent characteristics and therefore has only factors for consideration held within itself hidden from immediate observation. The observer is assumed ignorant in the first instance as the majority of available
833:, a black box refers to a piece of equipment provided by a vendor for the purpose of using that vendor's product. It is often the case that the vendor maintains and supports this equipment, and the company receiving the black box typically is hands-off.
858:(computer terms generally used to describe "learning" computers or "AI simulations"), a black box is used to describe the constantly changing section of the program environment which cannot easily be tested by the programmers. This is also called a
365:
The constitution and structure of the box are altogether irrelevant to the approach under consideration, which is purely external or phenomenological. In other words, only the behavior of the system will be accounted
757:(...) This simple rule proved very effective and is an illustration of how the Black Box principle in cybernetics can be used to control situations that, if gone into deeply, may seem very complex.
667:
element of the definition is shown as being characterised by a system where observable elements enter a perhaps imaginary box with a set of different outputs emerging which are also observable.
276:
who published his ideas in their most developed form in 1941. Although Cauer did not himself use the term, others who followed him certainly did describe the method as black-box analysis.
811:
is used to check that the output of a program is as expected, given certain inputs. The term "black box" is used because the actual program being executed is not examined.
1041:
198:), without any knowledge of its internal workings. Its implementation is "opaque" (black). The term can be used to refer to many inner workings, such as those of a
1253:
BCS SIGIST (British
Computer Society Specialist Interest Group in Software Testing), "Standard for Software Component Testing", Working Draft 3.4, 27 April 2001
746:
at every turn with systems whose internal mechanisms are not fully open to inspection, and which must be treated by the methods appropriate to the Black Box.
1387:
884:
protocol. If the output of an algorithm when interacting with the protocol matches that of a simulator given some inputs, it only needs to know the inputs.
615:
With back testing, out of time data is always used when testing the black box model. Data has to be written down before it is pulled for black box inputs.
1498:
236:
The opposite of a black box is a system where the inner components or logic are available for inspection, which is most commonly referred to as a
406:
are distinct, that the system has observable (and relatable) inputs and outputs and that the system is black to the observer (non-openable).
1415:
177:
496:
When the experimenter is also motivated to control the box, there is active feedback in the box/observer relation, promoting what in
1503:
1452:
1215:
648:
859:
237:
110:
1508:
862:
in the context that the program code can be seen, but the code is so complex that it is functionally equivalent to a black box.
268:, which led to electronic circuits being regarded as "black boxes" characterized by their response to signals applied to their
311:
as being to be able to copy the output behavior of a black box. Many other engineers, scientists and epistemologists, such as
225:
with a typical "black box approach", only the behavior of the stimulus/response will be accounted for, to infer the (unknown)
1493:
958:
826:
program) or one which has no side effects and the function of which need not be examined, a routine suitable for re-use.
350:
329:
222:
145:
1019:
35:
869:, a black box is a system whose internal structure is unknown, or need not be considered for a particular purpose.
256:
The modern meaning of the term "black box" seems to have entered the
English language around 1945. In electronic
1384:
1146:
Proceedings of the
Fourteenth International Symposium of Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems (MTNS2000)
1488:
1279:
170:
1149:
968:
877:
501:
98:
1463:"Mind as a Black Box: The Behaviorist Approach", pp. 85-88, in Friedenberg, Jay; and Silverman, Gordon;
1343:
1014:
783:) can also do some stimulus (input), the relation with the black box is not only an observation, but an
304:
269:
122:
1144:
Cauer, Emil; Mathis, Wolfgang; and Pauli, Rainer; "Life and Work of
Wilhelm Cauer (1900 – 1945)",
1230:
Bunge, Mario; "A general black-box theory", Philosophy of
Science, Vol. 30, No. 4, 1963, pp. 346-358.
1483:
1092:
963:
881:
802:
798:
153:
134:
997:
855:
149:
106:
288:
in 1921 and argues that 2-terminal components were implicitly treated as black-boxes before that.
30:
This article is about the abstract concept of black box systems. For black boxes in aircraft, see
1360:
1299:
975:
837:
780:
692:
680:
552:
423:
163:
1251:
See for ex. the
British standard BS 7925-2 (Software component testing), or its 2001 work draft,
1448:
1211:
1110:
1061:
1007:
807:
604:
308:
265:
261:
230:
195:
114:
81:
1428:
1352:
1291:
1100:
1053:
463:
I accidentally pushed the button marked “!”—the Box increased in temperature by 20 °C.
281:
277:
118:
1391:
937:
927:
387:
337:. Both have focus on input and output flows, representing exchanges with the surroundings.
323:
31:
1096:
1080:
1002:
992:
942:
876:
to capture the notion of knowledge obtained by an algorithm through the execution of a
851:
636:
632:
497:
418:
can be written in a table, in which, at each of a sequence of times, the states of the
342:
300:
257:
141:
69:
1324:
707:
567:
516:
414:
An observer makes observations over time. All observations of inputs and outputs of a
248:
1477:
1303:
823:
688:
455:
I pushed over the switch marked K: the note rose to 480 Hz and remained steady.
427:
285:
273:
1242:
Glanville, Ranulph; "Black Boxes", Cybernetics and Human
Knowing, 2009, pp. 153-167.
984:
873:
1254:
27:
System where only the inputs and outputs can be viewed, and not its implementation
1403:
1427:
WE Duckworth, AE Gear and AG Lockett (1977), "A Guide to
Operational Research".
1266:
932:
903:
684:
609:
371:
312:
292:
211:
102:
85:
52:
17:
303:
in 1961 as an unknown system that was to be identified using the techniques of
1432:
980:
947:
899:
895:
784:
676:
628:
486:
383:
296:
280:
puts the concept of black-boxes even earlier, attributing the explicit use of
215:
199:
1114:
1065:
822:
is one where the user cannot see the inner workings (perhaps because it is a
1445:
Black-Box
Testing: Techniques for Functional Testing of Software and Systems
1207:
830:
815:
775:
490:
207:
1204:
Cybernetics: or the
Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine
422:
various parts, input and output, are recorded. Thus, using an example from
1394:
part of Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Management. Retrieved 11/09/2011
660:
866:
623:
194:
is a system which can be viewed in terms of its inputs and outputs (or
1364:
1338:
1105:
485:
If the observer also controls input, the investigation turns into an
203:
687:, one of the uses of black box theory is to describe and understand
1356:
1295:
1231:
1135:, Akademische Verlags-Gesellschaft Becker und Erler, Leipzig, 1941.
1057:
691:
factors in fields such as marketing when applied to an analysis of
622:
247:
252:
A black box model can be used to describe the outputs of systems.
907:
656:
1161:
Belevitch, Vitold; "Summary of the history of circuit theory",
702:
562:
511:
447:
I did nothing—the Box emitted a steady hum at 240 Hz.
229:. The usual representation of this "black box system" is a
240:(sometimes also known as a "clear box" or a "glass box").
315:, used and perfected the black box theory in the 1960s.
741:
is even wider in application than professional studies:
1465:
Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Study of Mind
1406:
Marketing By Richard L. Sandhusen. Retrieved 11/09/2011
1325:"Sir Isaac Newton - mathematical laws Black Box theory"
719:
579:
528:
1404:
Black-box theory used to understand Consumer behaviour
1327:, new-science-theory.com, retrieved 13 October 2022.
555:, using existing historic data (observation table).
1081:"Explanatory black boxes and mechanistic reasoning"
349:is an abstraction representing a class of concrete
128:
92:
75:
59:
43:
1189:, London: Chapman & Hall, 1956, chapter 6:
755:
743:
363:
382:is based on the "explanatory principle", the
171:
8:
1129:Theorie der linearen Wechselstromschaltungen
608:methods ensures that it is, based solely on
353:which can be viewed solely in terms of its
190:In science, computing, and engineering, a
178:
164:
1226:
1224:
1104:
426:, examining a box that has fallen from a
774:
659:is held in an inner situation away from
651:can be described as a black box theory.
478:obtained by re-coding the protocol (the
432:
322:
1181:
1179:
1177:
1175:
1085:Journal of Research in Science Teaching
1032:
299:in 1956. A black box was described by
40:
639:(red) to an input of rainfall (blue).
489:(illustration), and hypotheses about
7:
551:is the construction of a predictive
1079:Haskel-Ittah, Michal (April 2023).
912:
631:is a graphic of the response of a
25:
706:
566:
515:
295:, a full treatment was given by
51:
1169:, Iss 5, pp. 848-855, May 1962.
482:); all that, and nothing more.
1499:Metaphors referring to objects
1187:An introduction to cybernetics
649:Newton's theory of gravitation
1:
1385:Institute for working futures
1148:, p4, Perpignan, June, 2000.
1040:Bunge, Mario (October 1963).
647:black box). In this context,
430:might lead to this protocol:
398:. This principle states that
1339:"A General Black Box Theory"
1280:"A General Black Box Theory"
1042:"A General Black Box Theory"
410:Recording of observed states
307:. He saw the first step in
1290:(4). Mario Bunge: 346–358.
1267:Definition from Answers.com
959:in (general) Systems theory
765:Duckworth, Gear and Lockett
559:Testing the black box model
439:States of input and output
1525:
1467:, Sage Publications, 2006.
602:is a validated model when
36:Black box (disambiguation)
29:
1433:10.1007/978-94-011-6910-3
792:Computing and mathematics
159:
133:
97:
80:
64:
50:
1504:Software design patterns
493:can be tested directly.
196:transfer characteristics
1020:Stimulus–response model
378:The understanding of a
214:, or an institution or
1509:Programming principles
1278:Clara, Parker (1963).
1163:Proceedings of the IRE
878:cryptographic protocol
845:Science and technology
788:
779:When the observer (an
768:
754:
677:humanities disciplines
671:Adoption in humanities
640:
635:(a blackbox) with its
376:
338:
253:
76:Methods and techniques
34:. For other uses, see
1494:Metatheory of science
1416:designing of websites
1344:Philosophy of Science
1284:Philosophy of Science
1046:Philosophy of Science
1015:System identification
838:mathematical modeling
778:
626:
333:is the foundation of
326:
305:system identification
251:
233:centered in the box.
154:Thermodynamic systems
123:System identification
1418:Retrieved 11/09/2011
1390:26 June 2012 at the
910:as a black box; see
882:zero-knowledge proof
856:heuristic algorithms
803:software engineering
799:computer programming
663:investigations. The
1097:2023JRScT..60..915H
998:Pattern recognition
330:open systems theory
272:, can be traced to
150:Operations research
107:Pattern recognition
1337:Bunge, M. (1963).
1152:19 September 2008.
976:Multi-agent system
889:Other applications
840:, a limiting case.
789:
718:. You can help by
693:consumer behaviour
681:philosophy of mind
644:Black box theories
641:
578:. You can help by
553:mathematical model
527:. You can help by
339:
284:as black boxes to
266:transfer functions
254:
93:Related techniques
1202:Wiener, Norbert;
1106:10.1002/tea.21817
1008:Signal processing
989:Related theories
969:in Control theory
964:in Thermodynamics
852:neural networking
820:black box program
808:black box testing
736:
735:
605:black-box testing
596:
595:
545:
544:
480:observation table
475:
474:
309:self-organization
282:two-port networks
262:network synthesis
231:data flow diagram
188:
187:
115:White-box testing
82:Black-box testing
45:Black box systems
16:(Redirected from
1516:
1468:
1461:
1455:
1441:
1435:
1425:
1419:
1413:
1407:
1401:
1395:
1382:
1376:
1375:
1373:
1371:
1334:
1328:
1323:Vincent Wilmot,
1321:
1315:
1314:
1312:
1310:
1275:
1269:
1264:
1258:
1249:
1243:
1240:
1234:
1228:
1219:
1200:
1194:
1185:Ashby, W. Ross;
1183:
1170:
1159:
1153:
1150:Retrieved online
1142:
1136:
1127:Cauer, Wilhelm;
1125:
1119:
1118:
1108:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1037:
902:, the school of
766:
752:
739:Black Box theory
731:
728:
710:
703:
699:Black box theory
591:
588:
570:
563:
549:modeling process
540:
537:
519:
512:
491:cause and effect
433:
374:
359:output reactions
335:black box theory
278:Vitold Belevitch
180:
173:
166:
119:Gray-box testing
55:
41:
21:
18:Black box theory
1524:
1523:
1519:
1518:
1517:
1515:
1514:
1513:
1474:
1473:
1472:
1471:
1462:
1458:
1443:Beizer, Boris;
1442:
1438:
1426:
1422:
1414:
1410:
1402:
1398:
1392:Wayback Machine
1383:
1379:
1369:
1367:
1336:
1335:
1331:
1322:
1318:
1308:
1306:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1265:
1261:
1252:
1250:
1246:
1241:
1237:
1229:
1222:
1201:
1197:
1184:
1173:
1160:
1156:
1143:
1139:
1126:
1122:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1039:
1038:
1034:
1029:
1024:
938:Flight recorder
928:Black box group
923:
906:sees the human
891:
847:
794:
773:
767:
764:
758:
753:
750:
732:
726:
723:
716:needs expansion
701:
673:
621:
600:black box model
592:
586:
583:
576:needs expansion
561:
541:
535:
532:
525:needs expansion
510:
412:
388:causal relation
375:
370:
321:
260:the process of
246:
184:
142:Control systems
88:
39:
32:Flight recorder
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1522:
1520:
1512:
1511:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1489:Systems theory
1486:
1476:
1475:
1470:
1469:
1456:
1436:
1420:
1408:
1396:
1377:
1357:10.1086/287954
1351:(4): 346–358.
1329:
1316:
1296:10.1086/287954
1270:
1259:
1244:
1235:
1220:
1195:
1171:
1154:
1137:
1120:
1091:(4): 915–933.
1071:
1058:10.1086/287954
1052:(4): 346–358.
1031:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1011:
1010:
1005:
1003:Systems theory
1000:
995:
993:Oracle machine
987:
978:
973:
972:
971:
966:
961:
950:
945:
943:Grey box model
940:
935:
930:
924:
922:
919:
918:
917:
913:other theories
890:
887:
886:
885:
870:
863:
846:
843:
842:
841:
834:
827:
818:in general, a
812:
793:
790:
772:
769:
762:
748:
734:
733:
713:
711:
700:
697:
672:
669:
620:
619:Other theories
617:
594:
593:
573:
571:
560:
557:
543:
542:
522:
520:
509:
506:
504:architecture.
498:control theory
473:
472:
469:
465:
464:
461:
457:
456:
453:
449:
448:
445:
441:
440:
437:
411:
408:
368:
355:stimuli inputs
343:systems theory
320:
319:Systems theory
317:
301:Norbert Wiener
258:circuit theory
245:
242:
221:To analyze an
186:
185:
183:
182:
175:
168:
160:
157:
156:
131:
130:
126:
125:
95:
94:
90:
89:
78:
77:
73:
72:
70:Oracle machine
62:
61:
57:
56:
48:
47:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1521:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1481:
1479:
1466:
1460:
1457:
1454:
1453:0-471-12094-4
1450:
1446:
1440:
1437:
1434:
1430:
1424:
1421:
1417:
1412:
1409:
1405:
1400:
1397:
1393:
1389:
1386:
1381:
1378:
1366:
1362:
1358:
1354:
1350:
1346:
1345:
1340:
1333:
1330:
1326:
1320:
1317:
1305:
1301:
1297:
1293:
1289:
1285:
1281:
1274:
1271:
1268:
1263:
1260:
1256:
1248:
1245:
1239:
1236:
1233:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1217:
1216:0-262-73009-X
1213:
1209:
1205:
1199:
1196:
1193:, pp. 86–117.
1192:
1191:The black box
1188:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1158:
1155:
1151:
1147:
1141:
1138:
1134:
1130:
1124:
1121:
1116:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1090:
1086:
1082:
1075:
1072:
1067:
1063:
1059:
1055:
1051:
1047:
1043:
1036:
1033:
1026:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
990:
988:
986:
982:
979:
977:
974:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
925:
920:
915:
914:
909:
905:
901:
897:
893:
892:
888:
883:
879:
875:
871:
868:
864:
861:
857:
853:
849:
848:
844:
839:
835:
832:
828:
825:
824:closed source
821:
817:
813:
810:
809:
804:
800:
796:
795:
791:
786:
782:
777:
770:
761:
747:
742:
740:
730:
721:
717:
714:This section
712:
709:
705:
704:
698:
696:
694:
690:
689:psychological
686:
682:
678:
670:
668:
666:
662:
658:
652:
650:
645:
638:
634:
630:
627:The observed
625:
618:
616:
613:
611:
607:
606:
601:
590:
581:
577:
574:This section
572:
569:
565:
564:
558:
556:
554:
550:
539:
530:
526:
523:This section
521:
518:
514:
513:
507:
505:
503:
499:
494:
492:
488:
483:
481:
470:
467:
466:
462:
459:
458:
454:
451:
450:
446:
443:
442:
438:
435:
434:
431:
429:
428:flying saucer
425:
421:
417:
409:
407:
405:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
373:
367:
362:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
336:
332:
331:
325:
318:
316:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
289:
287:
286:Franz Breisig
283:
279:
275:
274:Wilhelm Cauer
271:
267:
263:
259:
250:
243:
241:
239:
234:
232:
228:
224:
219:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
181:
176:
174:
169:
167:
162:
161:
158:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
137:
132:
127:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
91:
87:
83:
79:
74:
71:
67:
63:
58:
54:
49:
46:
42:
37:
33:
19:
1464:
1459:
1444:
1439:
1423:
1411:
1399:
1380:
1368:. Retrieved
1348:
1342:
1332:
1319:
1307:. Retrieved
1287:
1283:
1273:
1262:
1247:
1238:
1232:jstor/186066
1203:
1198:
1190:
1186:
1166:
1162:
1157:
1145:
1140:
1132:
1128:
1123:
1088:
1084:
1074:
1049:
1045:
1035:
985:Retrodiction
952:
911:
874:cryptography
819:
806:
771:Applications
756:
744:
738:
737:
724:
720:adding to it
715:
674:
664:
653:
643:
642:
614:
603:
599:
598:A developed
597:
584:
580:adding to it
575:
548:
546:
533:
529:adding to it
524:
502:feed forward
500:is called a
495:
484:
479:
476:
419:
415:
413:
403:
399:
395:
391:
390:between the
379:
377:
364:
358:
354:
346:
340:
334:
328:
290:
255:
235:
226:
220:
191:
189:
146:Open systems
135:
129:Fundamentals
99:Feed forward
65:
44:
1484:Cybernetics
1309:23 December
953:Open system
933:Blackboxing
904:behaviorism
760:to stimuli.
685:behaviorism
372:Mario Bunge
351:open system
313:Mario Bunge
293:cybernetics
223:open system
212:human brain
138:information
103:Obfuscation
86:Blackboxing
1478:Categories
1027:References
981:Prediction
948:Hysteresis
900:psychology
896:philosophy
880:such as a
785:experiment
629:hydrograph
612:elements.
610:observable
487:experiment
384:hypothesis
297:Ross Ashby
216:government
200:transistor
1370:8 January
1304:123014360
1218:, page xi
1208:MIT Press
1115:0022-4308
1066:0031-8248
860:white box
831:computing
816:computing
727:June 2019
665:black box
633:watershed
587:June 2019
536:June 2019
416:black box
380:black box
347:black box
238:white box
208:algorithm
192:black box
111:White box
66:Black box
1447:, 1995,
1388:Archived
1210:, 1961,
921:See also
829:Also in
763:—
749:—
679:such as
508:Modeling
394:and the
369:—
136:A priori
1255:webpage
1093:Bibcode
867:physics
244:History
1451:
1365:186066
1363:
1302:
1214:
1167:vol 50
1113:
1064:
661:facile
637:runoff
460:11:20
452:11:19
444:11:18
404:output
396:output
345:, the
210:, the
204:engine
60:System
1361:JSTOR
1300:S2CID
1133:Vol.I
781:agent
751:Ashby
471:Etc.
436:Time
424:Ashby
420:box's
400:input
392:input
386:of a
270:ports
264:from
206:, an
202:, an
1449:ISBN
1372:2024
1311:2020
1212:ISBN
1111:ISSN
1062:ISSN
908:mind
898:and
801:and
683:and
657:data
547:The
468:...
402:and
366:for.
357:and
327:The
1429:doi
1353:doi
1292:doi
1101:doi
1054:doi
894:In
872:In
865:In
854:or
850:In
836:In
814:In
797:In
722:.
675:In
582:.
531:.
341:In
291:In
227:box
1480::
1359:.
1349:30
1347:.
1341:.
1298:.
1288:30
1286:.
1282:.
1223:^
1206:,
1174:^
1165:,
1131:,
1109:.
1099:.
1089:60
1087:.
1083:.
1060:.
1050:30
1048:.
1044:.
955::
805:,
695:.
361::
218:.
152:,
148:,
144:,
140:,
121:,
117:,
113:,
109:,
105:,
101:,
84:,
68:,
1431::
1374:.
1355::
1313:.
1294::
1257:.
1117:.
1103::
1095::
1068:.
1056::
983:/
916:.
787:.
729:)
725:(
589:)
585:(
538:)
534:(
179:e
172:t
165:v
38:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
