Cultural Code in Engineering Design

Kotliar Elena Romanovna PhD in Art History Associate Professor, Department of Visual and Decorative Art, Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University named after Fevzi Yakubov 295015, Russia, Republic of Crimea, Simferopol, lane. Educational, 8, room 337 allenkott@mail.ru Other publications by this author

In modern cultural studies, numerous definitions and directions of the study of culture are known, each of which focuses on one of three aspects: the material embodiment of human activity in science and production (M. Weber, G. Rickert, V. Windelband, Yu. V. Bromley, etc.) ^[3]; his spiritual aspirations in philosophical and religious concepts (I. Kant, G. F. Hegel, A. F. Losev, O. Spengler, P. Sorokin, etc.) ^[3]; a mixed, material and spiritual type of embodiment of culture - art (E. Kassirer, K. Jaspers, M. Heidegger, Y. M. Lotman, M. V. Alpatov, etc.) ^{[3; 4; 5]}. To our study, the subject of which is the cultural code and its identification in the visualized example – designations of elements of electrical circuits in engineering design (Fig.1), the first type is closer – applied reading, cultural activity related to specific practical tasks of the technical direction. Accordingly, in this study, it is advisable to use methods of semantic analysis when deciphering the meanings of individual signs of a technical scheme, synthesis when considering the meaning of aggregates of individual signs, a systematic method when evaluating a technical scheme as an integral representation of a unique product, a hermeneutic method when considering the sign-symbolic constant of the technical design language.

Cultural scientists of the twentieth century (F. de Saussure, M. Heidegger, K. Jaspers, Yu. M. Lotman) ^{[10; 8]} focused on symbolic forms of culture, applying the same principles and methods to their analysis as to linguistics. Thus, the manifestations and products of culture began to be considered as a cultural text, or the text of culture. In a general sense, a text can be called any information transmitted in one way or another, both verbally, using language symbols, and non-verbally, for example, through fine art, music, theater, religious and ritual traditions, etc. In all the examples given, to decrypt any cultural text, it is necessary to know a certain code, a key that opens the inner meaning. Such a code in linguistics is alphabetic symbols that visually convey sounds, and then form into words and sentences, and then into a coherent text ^[6]. In theater, ballet, ritual practice, such a symbolic code unit is a symbolic movement, the position of the body, which the viewer deciphers in accordance with the source (artwork, religious doctrine, generally accepted social norms of behavior in the area, etc.) ^[13]. Fine art and especially music are in this case the most abstract cultural texts, the reading of which is variable and largely depends on the psychology of the personality of the viewer (listener). However, even in these examples there are general principles based on the general laws of psychology of perception of color, sound, rhythm and their influence on the overall impression of the work, the mood of the recipient ^[9]. Structuralism and poststructuralism became a special direction in the study of culture (K. Levi-Strauss, R. Barth), whose main goal was to search for stable structures based on the terminology of linguistics, for example, finding parallels, oppositions, semantic and relational meanings in cultural processes, etc. ^[11]. 

The theory of the cultural code as a scientific term was originally proposed in mathematics, computer engineering, cybernetics, genetics. The code in this case refers to a certain combination of characters and their syntax (rules of use), under which information can be transmitted for processing and storage. In other words, the cultural code allows you to convert values into meaning. The most archaic example of a cultural code, according to E. Tylor, is an encrypted (hidden) name or word that allows you to attribute this manifestation of culture or its subject to a certain group, community, genus, which has been observed since primitive culture. Later in the history of the development of society, a variety of codes were formed in society, consisting of a combination of words, gestures, color symbols, pictorial symbolic symbols, etc. The same cultural text can be deciphered in different ways using different codes ^[2]. As an example, an ornament can be given as a text consisting of different geometric symbols, each of which has a special meaning in different ethnocultures. Such symbols and their totality in the reading of different ethnic groups can form completely different, unrelated combinations of meanings. Another example: in most European cultures, turning your head from side to side means denial, and nodding your head means agreement. But in Bulgarian culture, the same gestures are read the other way around: a nod means "no", a turn of the head to the sides means "yes". Thus, cultural texts identical in visualization can be decrypted in different ways, depending on the code ^[7].

With regard to technology, one of the earliest illustrative examples of code is Morse code, which transmits encrypted alphabetic characters using sound symbols (long beep-dash, short beep-dot). Thus, the code in Morse code is a dot and dash, as well as their signified combinations, with knowledge of which sounds (as well as their visualization in the form of recorded combinations of dots and dashes on paper) are deciphered and converted into a verbal language text. The second common example of code is discrete units calculated in bits of information, combinations of which are calculated and converted into signified meanings. An example of such codes can be programming languages in which a limited number of characters are converted by developers into meaningful information available to a much wider range of its consumers.

The unit, the starting point of any cultural text is a sign (symbol) ^[5]. According to the theory proposed by Charles Morris, all cultural activity is a sign system. A sign is like a kind of conditional image, sound or gesture that indicates some other object, concrete or abstract. Signs can be both symbolic (not directly related to the signified, for example, a double–headed eagle as a symbol of power) and iconic (similar to the signified, for example, Olympic rings). Index signs are positioned separately (directly related to the signified, but not similar to it, for example, the early Christian symbol of Christ – the fish, multiple mentions of which are contained in the Gospels).

In applied terms, three functions of signs are distinguished: syntax, semantics and pragmatics. The task of syntax is to define the rules of the characters, as well as variations of their aggregates and connections. Semantics includes the signified signified, the configuration of meanings depending on the change in the shape of the sign. Pragmatics is responsible for the practical application of the sign and sets of signs.

As an example, let's consider the designation of elements of electrical circuits, which is a graphic pictograms and text read using codes – the values of symbols and their combinations.

An electrical diagram is a document drawn up in the form of conventional images (symbols) or designations of the components of the product and their relationships, describing the content and operation of an electrical device or a set of devices (Fig.1). To read any verbal text, you need to know the alphabet (code units) and reading rules (syntax). So, to read electrical circuits, it is necessary to have an idea of the outline and semantics of the symbols of the technical text and the rules for their decoding ^[1].

The basis of the electrical circuit is the conventional graphic designations of various elements and devices, as well as the connections between them. The language of modern schemes deciphers the main functions that the depicted elements perform in the scheme. With the development of electromechanical devices, the question of uniform conventional graphic designations of elements of electrical circuits and their individual parts has become relevant to engineers in order for their decryption to become identical and unambiguous for specialists around the world. In other words, the technical design code is universal and independent of the geographical location of the developer.

Conventional graphic symbols are combinations of simple geometric shapes: squares, rectangles, circles, as well as solid and dashed lines and dots. The combination of symbols provided by the standard according to a special system makes it possible to depict any required devices: various electrical devices, appliances, electrical machines, lines of mechanical and electrical connections.

Depending on the main purpose, electrical circuits are divided into types and denoted by numbers. The definitions of the types of circuits defined by the standard and their purpose are given below (the names indicated in parentheses are set for electrical circuits of power structures) ^{[1, 2]}.

Structural – 1. Schemes define the main functional parts of the product, their purpose and relationship. They are developed at the stages preceding the development of other types of circuits and are used for general familiarization with the product.

Functional – 2. Schemes explain certain processes occurring in individual functional circuits of the product. These schemes are used to study the principle of operation of products, as well as during the adjustment and repair of products.

Basic (complete) – 3. Schemes determine the full composition of the elements and the connections between them and, as a rule, give a detailed idea of the operation of the product. If the product includes devices that have their own schematic diagrams, then such devices are considered as elements in the product diagram. In this case, the detailed principle of operation of the product is determined by the totality of its schematic diagram and the schematic diagrams of these devices. Schematic diagrams are used to study the principle of operation of products, as well as during their adjustment and repair. They serve as the basis for the development of other design documents, for example, connection diagrams ^[12].

Electrical circuits are performed in accordance with the requirements of the following standards, which serve as a single code system for decrypting various types of circuits:

GOST 2.004-88 Unified system of design documentation. General requirements for the implementation of design technological documents on printing and graphic computer output devices;

GOST 2.102-68 Unified system of design documentation. Types and completeness of design documents;

GOST 2.104-2006 Unified system of design documentation. Main inscriptions;

GOST 2.301-68 Unified system of design documentation. Formats;

GOST 2.601-2006 Unified system of design documentation. Operational documents;

GOST 2.602-95 Unified system of design documentation. Repair documents;

GOST 2.701-2008 Unified system of design documentation. Schemes. Types and types. Common;

Figure 1 shows a schematic electrical diagram of the control of an electric carriage movement drive (a mechanism or machine assembly carrying a number of parts and moving along guides or, less often, rotating in bearings). In accordance with these ciphers, the engineer can read the above scheme, as well as work on its modification and improvement.  

The electrical equipment for which the schematic diagram is made consists of an electric motor M powered by a three-phase 380 V AC network (phase wires are designated by the letters A, B, C, neutral wire – N). The electric motor M is connected to the power supply by means of an automatic switch QF, which provides protection in case of a short circuit (if the rated current consumption is exceeded, the electric motor is switched off). To protect against overload of the electric motor M, the electric thermal relay KK1, KK2 is designed, which disconnects the power supply circuit of the electric motor M when the current consumption of the electric motor increases above the nominal, (the principle of operation of the electric thermal relay is based on bending the bimetallic plate, which is a contact, when heated by electric current and opens the power circuit).

The control of switching on and off of the electric motor is carried out by a control circuit that consists of a magnetic contactor KM (magnetic contactor is a switching device for power electrical circuits consisting of an electromagnet and electrical contacts KM1, KM2, KM3, KM4, which are closed under the action of a magnetic field that occurs when a supply voltage is applied to the electromagnet, in this circuit diagram KM, KM1, KM2, KM3, KM4 are one device depicted in a spaced way). The magnetic contactor is switched on by briefly pressing the SB1 push-button switch, while the 220 V mains voltage is applied to the magnetic contactor, it turns on, contacts KM1, KM3, KM4 are closed, contact KM2 is opened, when the SB1 push-button switch is released, the KM magnetic contactor remains switched on by contact KM4. The electric motor M is switched on by closed contacts KM3.

In the control circuit there are lighting lamps EL1, EL2, HL2 and a sound device – an electric call HA, devices for indicating the status of the electric drive. The lamp EL2 lights up when the engine is turned on, and EL1 – when it is turned off.

The circuit has a way switch SQ3, which is triggered in the upper position of the carriage and turns on the audible alarm –electric call HA and turns off the signal lamp HL2 – "Carriage in the intermediate position".

The electric drive is switched off by briefly pressing the SB2 push–button switch, the magnetic contactor is de-energized, the contacts KM1, KM3, KM open, KM2 closes, the engine turns off, the lamp EL1 turns on - "The engine is off".

Thus, using the example of this electrical circuit and clarifying the meanings of its elements with the help of cultural codes of engineering design described in special documentation, one can see the same principle that applies both to verbal languages in linguistics and to non-verbal ones in abstract types of cultural activities, in particular in art.  The decryption of any text is based on a system of cultural codes, which in general constitute the key to its reading and understanding.