| Project Cybersyn |
Article Index for Project |
Website Links For Project |
Information AboutProject Cybersyn |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT PROJECT CYBERSYN | |
| cybernetics | |
| economy of chile | |
| history of chile | |
| salvador allende | |
| socialism | |
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HISTORY In early 1970, Stafford Beer was asked by the newly elected president Salvador Allende to design this system. It took about a year to build; although it was never completely finished. The system was most useful in October 1972, when about 50,000 striking truck drivers blocked streets of Santiago ; using telex machines, the government was able to coordinate the transport of food into the city by about remaining 200 trucks loyal to government. After the Military Coup on September 11th, 1973, the control center was destroyed immediately. THE SYSTEM There were 500 unused telex machines bought by the previous government, each was put into one factory. In the control center in Santiago, each day data coming from each factory (several numbers, such as raw material input, production output and number of absentees) were put into a computer, which made short-term predictions and necessary adjustments. There were four levels of control (firm, branch, sector, total), with Algedonic Feedback (if lower level of control didn't remedy a problem in a certain interval, the higher level was notified). The results were discussed in the operations room and the top-level plan was made. The Software for Cybersyn was called ''Cyberstrider'', and it used Bayesian Filtration and Bayesian Control . It was written by a team of 12 British programmers. The operations room was very futuristic-looking. It was furnished with 7 Swivel Chair s (considered the best for creativity) with buttons, which controlled several large screens that could project the data, and other panels with status information. The project is described in some detail in Beer's book, Platform for Change (including such social innovations as bringing representatives of diverse 'stakeholder' groups into the control center). SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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