Rate Distortion Manifolds as Model Spaces for Cognitive Information

The rate distortion manifold is considered as a carrier for elements of the theory of information proposed by C. E. Shannon combined with the semantic precepts of F. Dretske’s theory of communication. This type of information space was suggested by R. Wallace as a possible geometric–topological descriptive model for incorporating a dynamic information based treatment of the Global Workspace theory of B. Baars. We outline a more formal mathematical description for this class of information space and further clarify its structural content and overall interpretation within prospectively a broad range of cognitive situations that apply to individuals, human institutions, distributed cognition and massively parallel intelligent machine design.