A method of encoding data at a computer, the computer storing data associated with a plurality of dynamical subsystems, each dynamical subsystem having a plurality of associated state variables, the plurality of dynamical subsystems being coupled by a plurality of coupling functions. The method comprises receiving, at the computer, data to be encoded; inputting, at the computer, the data to be encoded into the plurality of dynamical subsystems as a plurality of parameters of the coupling functions; and outputting, from the computer, a plurality of state variables associated with the plurality of dynamical subsystems, the plurality of state variables comprising at least one of the plurality of state variables associated with each of the dynamical subsystems, the plurality of state variables providing an encoding of the received data.