[Sigia-l] data as information?

[Eric Scheid]

On 30/6/05 10:40 AM, "Listera" <listera at rcn.com> wrote:

>> The number 4683 is an example of data.
> 
>> [Data] is the evidence of a relationship between two
>> things. 
> 
> How's 4683 data again?

Interesting... perhaps like how a fingerprint is evidence of other things,
but you don't yet know who's fingerprint it is, nor why or how it may have
got there. Well, the print is very *probably* evidence - it could just be a
random smudge.

Similarly, "4683" might be data (per the above definition), or it might be a
random 4 digit number (and not data at all). To say "4683" is an example of
FOO does not preclude it also being an example of BAR.

This leads to ..

    noise -> data -> information -> knowledge -> wisdom

.. where 'data' is not the most basic element at all, noise* is.

I can live with that.

But then, I don't demand that everything in the world be self-evident.

e.


* or would the more proper term be 'entropy'? Whatever, I'm betting you get
what I meant to communicate, even if you don't necessarily agree. Uh oh, the
titles police will soon be on our back for not being absolutely precise and
axiomatic ;-)