Abstract: Methods and systems that employ electronic data processing to identify a set of data which can be outputted to a mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, or other device to optimize the performance of that device. The data to be outputted is identified by writing a function which represents a current event or situation as a string of binary digits, finding that one of a series of functions similarly representing past or historical events which is most closely correlated with the current event-representing function, and outputting the string of digits representing the thus identified historical event. The functions representing historical events can be derived from the function representing the current event or from information supplied from a separate source.