Black box is a technical term for a device or system or object when it is viewed primarily in terms of its input and output characteristics. Almost anything might occasionally be referred to as a black box: a transistor, an algorithm, humans, the Internet. In Electronics, a transistor is a Semiconductor device commonly used to amplify or switch electronic signals In Mathematics, Computing, Linguistics and related subjects an algorithm is a sequence of finite instructions often used for Calculation Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks

The opposite of a black box is a system where the inner components or logic are available for inspection (such as a free software/open source program) which is sometimes known as a white box, a glass box, or a clear box. Free software or software libre is Software that can be used studied and modified without restriction and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified Open source software (OSS began as a marketing campaign for Free software. In Software engineering white box, in contrast to a black box, is a Subsystem whose internals can be viewed but usually cannot be altered

History

The modern term "black box" seems to have entered the English language around 1945, however it had been used in a similar sense at least as early as the 1915 science fiction film serial The Black Box. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials or Film serials, were Short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a Feature The Black Box is a 1915 drama Film serial directed by Otis Turner. ^[1]

Common usage

Cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder

• In aviation, the term Black Box refers to the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder responsible for recording all communications in the cockpit of an aircraft in flight. A Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR is a Flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flightdeck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents The flight data recorder ( FDR) or Black Box is a Flight recorder used to record specific Aircraft performance parameters Aviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices ( Aircraft) including the people organizations and regulatory bodies involved with them The flight data recorder ( FDR) or Black Box is a Flight recorder used to record specific Aircraft performance parameters A Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR is a Flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flightdeck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents The phrase has become popularized by modern media while reporting aircraft crashes, despite the fact that the devices are usually not black.
• In electronics, a sealed piece of replaceable equipment; see line-replaceable unit. Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving Electrons through Nonmetal conductors (mainly Semiconductors, whereas electrical A line replaceable unit (LRU is a complex component of an airplane, Ship or Spacecraft that is designed to be replaced quickly at the flightline or (LRU)
• In computer programming and software engineering, black box testing is used to check that the output of a program is as expected, given certain inputs. Software engineering is the application of a systematic disciplined quantifiable approach to the development operation and maintenance of Software. Black box testing takes an external perspective of the test object to derive test cases ^[2] The term "black box" is used because the actual program being executed is not examined.
• In computing in general, a black box program is one where the user cannot see its inner workings (perhaps because it is a closed source program) or one which has no side effects and the function of which need not be examined, a routine suitable for re-use. Computing is usually defined like the activity of using and developing Computer technology Computer hardware and software. Proprietary software is Computer software on which the producer has set restrictions on use private modification copying, or republishing.
• Also in computing, a Black Box refers to a piece of equipment provided by a vendor, for the purpose of using that vendor's product. Computing is usually defined like the activity of using and developing Computer technology Computer hardware and software. It is often the case that the vendor maintains and supports this equipment, and the company receiving the Black Box typically are hands-off.
• In cybernetics a black box was described by Norbert Wiener as an unknown system that was to be identified using the techniques of system identification. Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the Structure of Complex systems especially Communication processes control mechanisms and Feedback Norbert Wiener ( November 26, 1894, Columbia Missouri – March 18, 1964, Stockholm, Sweden) was an American System identification is a general term to describe mathematical Tools and Algorithms that build dynamical models from measured data ^[3] He saw the first step in Self-organization as being to be able to copy the output behaviour of a black box. Self-organization is a process of Attraction and repulsion in which the internal organization of a System, normally an open system, increases
• In neural networking or heuristic algorithms (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 be tested by the programmers. Traditionally the term neural network had been used to refer to a network or circuit of biological neurons. In Computer science, a heuristic algorithm or simply a Heuristic is an Algorithm that ignores whether the solution to the problem can be proven
• In the stock market many people trade with "Black box" programs and algorithms designed by programmers. ^[4] These programs automatically trade user's accounts when certain technical market conditions suddenly exist (such as a SMA crossover). In Statistics of Time series, a simple moving average (SMA crossover results from plotting two Moving averages each based on a different period
• In physics, a black box is a system whose internal structure is unknown, or need not be considered for a particular purpose. Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Sometimes black box is used as a synonym for black body. In Physics, a black body is an object that absorbs all light that falls on it
• In mathematical modelling, a limiting case. Note The term model has a different meaning in Model theory, a branch of Mathematical logic.
• In philosophy and psychology, the school of behaviorism sees the human mind as a black box; see black box theory. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and Behaviorism or Behaviourism, also called the learning perspective (where any physical action is a behavior is a philosophy of Psychology based on the In Philosophy and Science black box theories have been proposed for various fields by various philosophers and scientists ^[5]
• In cryptography to capture the notion of knowledge obtained by an algorithm through the execution of a cryptographic protocol such as a zero-knowledge proof protocol. Cryptography (or cryptology; from Greek grc κρυπτός kryptos, "hidden secret" and grc γράφω gráphō, "I write" A security protocol ( cryptographic protocol or encryption protocol) is an abstract or concrete protocol that performs a security -related function In Cryptography, a zero-knowledge proof or zero-knowledge protocol is an interactive method for one party to prove to another that a (usually mathematical statement If the output of the algorithm when interacting with the protocol can be simulated by a simulator that interacts only the algorithm, this means that the algorithm 'cannot know' anything more than the input of the simulator. If the simulator can only interact with the algorithm in a black box way, we speak of a black box simulator.
• In pharmacology, a black box warning is a type of warning that appears on prescription drugs that may cause serious adverse effects. Pharmacology (from Greek grc φάρμακον pharmakon, "drug" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of how Drugs In the United States, a black box warning (also sometimes called a black label warning or boxed warning) is a type of warning that appears on the Package It is so named for the black border that usually surrounds the text of the warning. It means that medical studies indicate that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or even life-threatening adverse effects.

See also

• Black box theory
• Systems theory

References

External links

• From an Airliner's Black Box, Next-to-Last Words The New York Times