Tuesday 15 May 2007

Feedback

noun 1. the returning of a part of the output of any system, especially a mechanical, electronic, or biological one, as input, especially for correction or control purposes, to alter the characteristic sound of conventional musical instruments, etc.
2. an indication of the reaction of the recipient, as of an audience.
3. Electronics the return of part of the energy of the output circuit of an amplifier to the input, either to oppose the input signal (negative feedback) or to reinforce it (positive feedback).
4. the input of a signal into a microphone from the output of the same system, usually causing a high-pitched screech.
The Macquarie Dictionary Online © 2007 Macquarie University, Published by Macquarie Dictionary Publishers Pty Ltd.

1 is the most general, including the deliberate special case 3 and the unintentional 4. 2 can also be a case of 1, but are its effects sometimes more like 4?

3 comments:

tdix said...

How about 7?

Jonathan said...

Doesn't that prove the point? ;-)

Crazyjedidiah said...

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. That was my frind mike's feed back.