cyber-

1. The theoretical study of communication and control processes in biological, mechanical, and electronic systems; especially, the comparison of these processes in real and artificial programs: Cybernetics involves the study of how life evolves and creatures learn; as well as, how they manage themselves.
2. The replication or imitation of biological control setups with the use of technology: The transmission of signals in cybernetics involves those in animal nervous structures and the power over automatic productions of machinery.

Originally, cybernetics drew upon electrical engineering, mathematics, biology, neurophysiology, anthropology, and psychology to study and to describe actions, feedback, and responses in systems of all kinds.

The purpose of cybernetics is to understand the similarities and differences in internal workings of organic and machine processes and, by formulating abstract concepts common to all structures, to understand their behavior.

3. The study of messages and communication in humans, social groups, machines, etc.; especially, in reference to regulation and the circumscription of mechanisms: The analysis of cybernetics in feedback mechanisms serves to govern or to modify the actions of various kinds of programs.

Related recent developments of cybernetics (often referred to as "sciences of complexity") that are distinguished as separate disciplines are artificial intelligence, neural networks, systems theory, and chaos theory; however, the boundaries between those and cybernetics proper are not precise.

4. Etymology: coined by U.S. mathematician Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) who hypothesized that there is a similarity between the human nervous system and electronic machines: "Wiener derived the term cybernetics from the Greek kybernetes, 'steersman' (by extension, 'guide, governor') + -ics, 'matters relevant to'; which might have been based on French cybernétique, 'the art of governing'."

A person who studies or specializes in the scientific branch of learning of communication and control: Cybernetists generally exam comparisons of communication and control methods of humans and other living organisms with those of complex machines; for example, robotics as it relates specifically to the development and operation of automatic restraining equipment.

An electronic toy that behaves like a playful domesticated animal: The boy had fun playing with the new cyberpet that his father brought home.

A fondness for, or a fascination with, the use of machines; especially, working (or playing) with computers, their various uses, and programming them: When the medical students went to their special electronics class, they seemed to have a special cyberphilia for the medical activities that involved research with computers and the control programs of humans and other living organisms.

Someone who has an abnormal apprehension of computers and working with the internet; or who has tension, anxiety, and stress when required to work with such equipment: Ann's father was a cyberphobe who had an extreme and irrational fear of doing anything with devices that processes information; especially, a programmable electronic machine.

A excessive fright of computers, computerization, or anything related to computers: There are still people who have cyberphobia regarding the use of cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc., especially people who are much older or who have not had any training in the technology.

A person who is panicked by computers, computer technology, or the possibility that computer intelligence will supplant human intelligence: Mary's cyberphobic grandmother refused to have anything to do with laptops, cell phones, or anything connected with them.

As a cyberphobic, Mark experienced tension, anxiety, and stress when he was required to work on the website or anything else having to do with the information processing device.

Writing or pictures or films, etc. that are of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire which are accessed via the internet: One of the big money-makers are cyberporns which can suddenly show up on a person's monitor, even in Google ads.

Written internet presentations produced by authors: Cyberpublications are found in blogs, internet sites, e-books, and in other online creations by authors.

Those who print various kinds of content in digital format online, on web sites, in the form of PDF files, blogs, and other written online presentations: Cyberpublishers are participants in the publishing of a variety of internet presentations.

1. A type of science fiction that features or presents characters living in a darkly frightening, futuristic world dominated by computer technology: A type of science fiction in which cyberpunks use computers to govern just about everything.
2. A programmer, or programmers, who break into computer systems in order to steal, to change, or to destroy information as a form of data terrorism: The government investigations discovered cyberpunks that were radicals who employed terror as a political weapon, who usually worked with other terrorists in small cells, and who often used religion as a cover for their terrorist activities.

The protection of the confidentiality, accuracy, and availability of information stored and transmitted on computer systems: Cybersecurity is particularly involved with sensitive information; such as, financial records, personal data, and trade and official secrets.

"Cybersecurity is now considered to be a major international concern, with hackers gaining access to sensitive corporate and military secrets, including intellectual property."

To buy or to attempt to buy goods and services on a website: More and more people are cybershopping on websites instead of going to existing stores in their communities.

Websites that provide products or services for internet users to purchase: Many people find it more convenient to buy things from cybershops.

1. The idea that electronic information exists or is exchanged: In this virtual cyberspace, people can do many of the things they do in "normal" physical domain; that is, interact with other people, shop, read the news, etc.
2. The imaginary world of virtual reality: Computer games often create specialized cyberspaces into which users enter while playing the games and all the actions involved with the games in that world.
3. A computer hookup consisting of a worldwide web of computer circuits use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange: Cyberspace is a conceptual electronic cosmic region unbounded by distance or other physical limitations.
4. Not a real location but rather the "world" created by computers and specifically the internet: It is said that there is a blurry line between free speech and criminality in cyberspace.

When involved with cyberspace, people are dealing with a contrived world that has been formed by the display of data as an artificial three-dimensional area, which the user can manipulate and "move through" by providing certain commands to a computer.