Defining the Magick of Compute

January 31, 2025

Here, magick is not mystical but rather the physical relationship between form and function in computational systems. This article aims to clarify and expand upon the physics of systems facilitated by computers, distinguish computation from general operating systems, and emphasize computation as a tool of human ingenuity rather than an autonomous entity capable of true prediction or creativity.

Computation can be understood as the methodology for storing, processing, and manipulating data. At its core, a computer deals with:

Memory: Storing data temporarily or permanently.
Data Storage: Archiving information for retrieval.
Data Manipulation: Transforming data according to predefined rules or algorithms.

The Illusion of Prediction

One of the most revealing aspects of computation is the realization that computers do not predict in the way humans might think. Computers work with the past. For instance:

Web Pages: They are not dynamically recreated each visit but are instead reloaded from pre-existing code and data structures.
Digital Records: Information like medical records is inputted by humans and merely stored and retrieved by computers.
Language Models (LLMs): These systems, like all software, manipulate and combine known data in novel ways but do not generate entirely new concepts or languages.

What we perceive as prediction or creativity in computers is actually a sophisticated orchestration of human-designed algorithms interacting with pre-existing data.

Computers as Human Extensions

The essence of computational "magick" lies in how computers extend human capabilities:

Calculators: Reflect human arithmetic understanding.
Photo Editing Software: Digital tools based on human artistic techniques.
Health Screening Software: Incorporates medical knowledge into algorithms for diagnosis or risk assessment.

Computers, therefore, serve as mediums through which human consciousness and creativity are mirrored and amplified, but they do not possess consciousness themselves.

The Magick of Algorithms

In the realm of computer science and engineering, "magick" is redefined as a technical term that encapsulates the direct, deterministic link between an algorithm's structure (form) and its operational output (function). This magick is devoid of any mystical connotations; instead, it is the essence of engineering precision where code is meticulously designed to interact with the physical world.

The magick of algorithms is evident in how their form is engineered to achieve specific functions. When crafting an algorithm, engineers consider not just what the code does but how it does it in the physical realm. This involves selecting appropriate data structures, control flows, and computational models that align with the intended physical outcomes, whether it's processing data in real-time or controlling machinery with exactitude.

This magick is tangible in hardware interaction, where algorithms dictate physical behavior. A well-designed algorithm in an embedded system, for example, can govern the precise operation of devices, translating software logic into hardware action with no loss in fidelity. The same principle applies in control systems where algorithms must interpret physical feedback to adjust operations, ensuring that the form of the algorithm dynamically responds to the physical environment.

Efficiency, another aspect of this magick, involves optimizing algorithms not just for speed or memory but for their physical implementation. This means algorithms are engineered to work within the constraints of hardware, from energy consumption to processing capabilities, ensuring that the function is not only achieved but done so optimally.

Finally, the adaptability of algorithms, particularly in machine learning, reflects advanced magick. Here, the algorithm's structure is designed to evolve based on physical data inputs, altering its function to better fit the real-world scenarios it encounters.

In essence, the technical magick of algorithms is the art and science of aligning code with physical action, ensuring that every line of logic has a purpose, every structure serves a function, and every function manifests in the physical world precisely as intended. It's a testament to the harmony between abstract thought and tangible reality, where engineering turns the invisible into the inevitable.

A Portal to Human Worlds

Computers act as portals to landscapes of human achievement:

Education, Art, Communication: They provide access to resources, creativity, and connection, acting as tools rather than innate creators. They serve as tools to human creators.

Computation as Historical Art

Computation deals primarily with the past:

Computer Languages like Python, SQL: These are tools for organizing historical data in new ways.
Devices like Clocks: They count based on past observations of time, not predict future events.

Critical Thinking Challenge: The Magick of Compute

Analyze: Choose an application or device you use daily (e.g., your smartphone, a spreadsheet program). Describe how this tool is an extension of human capabilities rather than a predictor of new information.
Reflect: Consider how this device or software manipulates data. Is it creating new information, or rearranging, storing, and displaying what's already known?
Innovate: Think of one way you could use this tool to store or manipulate data in a new way to solve a personal or community issue, illustrating the 'magick' of computation in action.

The Future of Computation

Interdisciplinary Overlaps: The fusion of computer science with fields like chemistry (e.g., the "chemputer" concept by Lee Cronin) suggests a future where computation not only manipulates digital data but also physical substances, potentially revolutionizing manufacturing and material science.
Advancements in AI: While AI will continue to evolve, understanding its limitations as a tool for human foresight rather than an independent entity will be crucial.
Ethical and Philosophical Implications: As computation becomes more integrated into our lives, we must ponder the ethical use of computational magick, ensuring it amplifies human values and creativity rather than merely amplifying human errors or biases.

The magick of computation lies in its capacity to reflect, extend, and sometimes amplify human thought and action. By understanding this, we can better appreciate computers not as predictors but as profound tools for managing and exploring the vast, known universe of human knowledge and creativity.

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