[Sigia-l] RE: Data vs. Information

[Jim Kauffman]

Added to the iawiki, as requested:

"Data is something a computer understands, which may or may not be readable
by someone who doesn't know binary/octal/hex/etc. Information is something
humans understand, whether it comes from the Internet, a newspaper, your
cousin Joe, or a Donald Rumsfeld press briefing on CSPAN. The usefulness of
the information is determined by context and subjectivity. Information that
a comet will collide with Earth in three hours and wipe out all life forms
is probably useful for every human. Information that a man in Gabon was
slightly injured when he was hit by a car is probably useful to the man's
family, the driver, and possibly some Gabonian lawyers, but not to the rest
of us who read about it."

-Jim K.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org]On Behalf Of
> Jan Egil Hagen
> Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 9:32 PM
> To: sigia-l at asis.org
> Subject: Re: [Sigia-l] RE: Data vs. Information
>
> Maybe, but I shouldn't have to take anybodys word for it that /that's/
> how people use the word information.  Not even if they are dictionary
> authors.  So go fill out <URL: http://www.iawiki.net/InformationVsData