In spite of all the interest and importance of complexity, this concept remains elusive. In particular, several attempts at defining and/or quantifying complexity have  , at some point , run into intrinsic difficulties. This didactic text provides a brief review of some of the approaches that have been used to characterize complexity, and also suggests a possible definition of complexity based on the cost assigned to mapping the entity of interest, as well as on the  cost of the error implied by its respective reconstruction .
Complexity remains one of the central challenges in science and technology. Although several approaches at defining and/or quantifying complexity have been proposed , at some point each of them seems to run into intrinsic limitations. Two are the main objectives of the present work: (i) to review some of the main approaches to complexity; and (ii) to suggest a cost-based approach that, to a great extent, can be understood as an integration of the several facets of complexity. More specifically, it is poised that complexity, an inherently relative and subjective concept, can be summarized as the cost of developing a model, plus the cost of its respective operation. The proposal is illustrated respectively to several applications examples, including a real-data base situation .
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In spite of all the interest and importance of complexity, this concept remains elusive. In particular, several attempts
Complexity remains one of the central challenges in science and technology. Although several approaches
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been proposed
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,
each of them seems to
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difficulties. This didactic text provides a brief review of
limitations. Two are the main objectives of the present work: (i) to review
R
approaches that have been used to characterize complexity, and also suggests a possible definition of complexity based on the cost assigned to mapping the entity of interest, as well as on
main approaches to complexity; and (ii) to suggest a cost-based approach that, to a great extent, can be understood as an integration of
A
several facets of complexity. More specifically, it is poised that complexity, an inherently relative and subjective concept, can be summarized as the
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the error implied by its respective reconstruction
developing a model, plus the cost of its respective operation. The proposal is illustrated respectively to several applications examples, including a real-data base situation