effector

information processing

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

An effector is a component within an information system that acts as an output mechanism. It receives processed information or stimuli and emits the results back into the environment. In biological systems, effectors can be bodily tissues, structures, or organs like muscles and glands, which respond to stimulation by carrying out signals from the brain or spinal cord. In robotics, an effector refers to a tool mounted at the end of a robotic arm used for manipulation. Essentially, effectors are the active agents that cause or bring about a change or action within a system.123

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information processing
Basic concepts
…components, the receptor and the effector, are input and output mechanisms whose functions are, respectively, to receive symbolic expressions or stimuli from the external environment for manipulation by the processor and to emit the processed structures back to the environment.
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…components, the receptor and the effector, are input and output mechanisms whose functions are, respectively, to receive symbolic expressions or stimuli from the external environment for manipulation by the processor and to emit the processed structures back to the environment.
Read More