[Sigia-l] Serious Discussion of IA Research?

[Conal Tuohy]

Here's how I think about the difference between data and information, based I suppose on the model which Shannon et al put forward for "Information Theory".

Data are the raw facts, stored in a database or whatever. NB "Data" is a noun. 

"Information" on the other hand, is really a verb. Information is something that data DOES. If data is "informative", then it becomes information (or if you like, it participates in a process of information). It informs. Hence data which is not transmitted is not information.

So drawing a distinction between them on the basis of them being "different things" is mistaken (a "category mistake"). One is a thing and the other an activity. Like "water" and "drinking".

Cheers!

Con

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boniface Lau [mailto:boniface_lau at compuserve.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, 30 November 2004 3:09 p.m.
> To: sigia-l at asis.org
> Subject: RE: [Sigia-l] Serious Discussion of IA Research?
> 
> 
> 
> > From: Adele.Framer at wellsfargo.com
> >  
> > The distinction between data and information is that information is
> > 'data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to "who",
> > "what", "where", and "when" questions"' (Bellinger, Castro, Mills
> > http://www.systems-thinking.org/dikw/dikw.htm).
> 
> According to the above URL,
> 
> DIKW> Information... information is data that has been given meaning
> DIKW> by way of relational connection. This "meaning" can be useful,
> DIKW> but does not have to be. In computer parlance, a relational
> DIKW> database makes for information from the data stored within it. 
> 
> So, the architecture of a relational database is what you would call
> an Information Architecture?
> 
> 
> Boniface
> 
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