In physics, the principle of locality is that distant objects cannot have direct influence on one another. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_locality.
As I interpret it, for one "object" to have influence on another they must come into contact. They must be located in the same space and time. On a quantum level, I realize it is more complicated than this.
A computer does not operate based on non-local phenomena. It uses electrical signals to perform logic and memory operations. However these "signals" only effect each other by direct contact. For example, when data element A and data element B are loaded into the ALU to be added. The sum, C, is produced by a number of individual local phenomena (logic gates coming to stable values over time), that are all connected together in a network.
When I introspect, it seems like my awareness is very single pointed. For example, when I look at a red book on my bookshelf: photons are absorbed by my retina; this sends signals down the optical nerve to the visual cortex; the visual cortex produces the mental image including the color red; then maybe I think something about this book (decipher the words written on it, have a memory regarding what it is about)--this is all going on elsewhere in the brain. However, there seems to be one "I" experiencing all of this. Where is it? The visual cortex may produce this mental image, but to whom does it present it? And really this "I" can't be composed of individual local phenomena strung together, mostly separated by space and time. Therefore, there must be a nonlocal connection between all of this, one aspect of which is the "I" that is perceiving it. non-sequitor ?
Anyway, I'm not a scientist nor a philosopher, but am interested in the topic.
allan
