Latency-information theory

In this paper the mathematical-physical theory of communication-observation that is part of latency-information theory (LIT) is reviewed. LIT surfaced from the confluence of classical information theory, relativity theory, quantum mechanics, statistical physics and a 1978 conjecture by the author of a structural-physical certainty-uncertainty duality for quantized control. Control, radar, physics and biochemistry applications illustrate the theory. As part of the review, LIT is revealed to communicate through latency-certainty channels and/or information-uncertainty channels for observation across latency-certainty sensors and/or information-uncertainty sensors, a mathematical-physical efficiency perspective of the Universe in a four quadrants revolution. While the first and third quadrants are concerned with the life time of physical signal movers and the life space of physical signal retainers, respectively, the second and fourth quadrants are about the intelligence space of mathematical signal sources and the processing time of mathematical signal processors, respectively. The four quadrants of LIT are conjectured to be physically independent with their system design methodologies guided by dualities and performance bounds. Moreover, the tools of statistical physics bridge them, and inherently lead to the discovery of a novel certainty dual for thermodynamics named lingerdynamics.