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The Twenty Subsystems
Subsystems Which Process Material-Energy
Input Stage
• Ingestor: brings material-energy into the system
Throughput Stage
• Distributor: distributes material-energy for use throughout the system
• Converter: converts material-energy into suitable form for use by system
• Producer: synthesizes material-energy for use within the system
• M-E Storage: stores material-energy used by the system
• Motor: handles mobility of various parts of the system
• Supporter: provides physical support to the system
Output Stage
• Extruder: handles material-energy discharged by the system
Subsystems Which Process Information
Input Stage
• Input Transducer: brings information into the system
Throughput Stage
• Internal Transducer: recieves and converts information brought into the system
• Channel & Net: distributes information throughout the system
• Decoder: prepares information for use by the system
• Timer: maintains the appropriate spatial/temporal relationships
• Associator: maintains appropriate relationships between information sources
• Memory: stores information for system use
• Decider: makes decisions about various system operations
• Encoder: converts information to needed usable form
Output Stage
• Transducer: handles information output of system
Subsystems Which Process Material-Energy & Information
Throughput Stage
• Reproducer: carries on reproductive function
• Function Boundary: protects system from outside influences
Reference: "The Living Systems Theory of James Grier Miller" by Elaine Parent