What is distributed/local representation

[Yu Hu]

While lots of buzzzzz words such as graceful degradation, appear in the
discussion, may I ask a rather naive question:  

Shall someone give a mathematically (or .....ly) sound definition of
distribution and local representation (of what?) then we proceed to 
discuss them?  

Suppose the representations are for data vector in an N-dimensional 
space.  Is Distributed representation referred to data with many non-zero
elements, and local representation to the opposite?  If not, what are they?


Regards,

Yu Hen Hu
Department of Electrical and Computer Engr.               (608)262-6724(phone)
Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison                              (608)262-1267(fax)
1415 Johnson Drive                                        hu at engr.wisc.edu 
Madison, WI 53706-1691
U.S.A.