[Sigia-l] the meaning of information

[Drop, Daniel SIK]

(I had considered about avoiding this rat hole, too.  Since Eric Scheid took
the lead, I'll go in too.)

I found an erudite paper on the definition of 'information' by Marcia J.
Bates.

<http://informationr.net/ir/10-4/paper239.html
<http://informationr.net/ir/10-4/paper239.html> >  

The summary is at the end of the paper.  From the summary,

		"Information has been defined as the pattern of organization
of matter and energy. Information is everywhere except where there is total
entropy. Living beings process, organize and ascribe meaning to information.
Some pattern of organization that has been given meaning by a living being
has been defined as information 2, while the above definition is information
1, when it is desirable to make the distinction. Knowledge has been defined
as information given meaning and integrated with other contents of
understanding. Meaning itself is rooted ultimately in biological survival.
In the human being, extensive processing space in the brain has made
possible the generation of extremely rich cultural and interpersonal
meaning, which imbues human interactions. 

		...

		Data 1 has been defined as that portion of the entire
information environment (including internal inputs) that is taken in, or
processed, by an organism. Data 2 is that information that is selected or
generated and used by human beings for research or other social purposes."


		Daniel R. Drop
		Programs Information Architect
		Sikorsky Aircraft
		 (p.) +1-203-386-6855