What is this?
~

What is this?

What is this?
accent: Ord��ez
math symbol: p ~ 3.14
human feature: ~
graph:

IST 100
�Text and Context�

IST 100
Internet and Information Access, or
�Driver�s Ed for the Web�

IST 100
Internet and Information Access
IST 100, with emphasis on�
IS, as in Information Science

Information Science
What is it in particular?
What is it in general?
Why should you care?

Information Science
In particular, IS is concerned with documents and messages, and their:
representation = Text
letter, memo, email, IM
purchase order, invoice, receipt
newspaper, magazine, book
Web page
photograph, painting, sculpture

Information Science
In particular, IS is concerned with documents and messages, and their:
representation = Text
storage
transmission
selection (retrieval, filtering)

Information Science
In particular, IS is concerned with documents and messages, and their:
representation = Text
storage
transmission
selection (retrieval, filtering)
use = Context

Information Science
In particular, interest in such human-directed documents and messages may extend to several kinds of understanding:
contextual (fire vs. �Fire!!!�)
institutional (�ticket��)
methodological (boss � memo vs. conversation)
technological (Webcam vs. emoticon)
theoretical

Information Science
In particular, interest in such human-directed documents and messages may extend to several kinds of understanding:
contextual
institutional
methodological
technological
theoretical

Information Science
A particular message:
�Get me Wrigley!�

Information Science
What is it in particular?
�IS is centered on the representation, storage, transmission, selection (retrieval, filtering), and the use of documents and messages� created for use by humans.Interest extends outwards in many directions because of the need to understand contextual, institutional, methodological, technological, and theoretical aspects.� � Buckland & Liu, 1995

Information Science
In general, IS is a discipline or field like history or biology or linguistics or political science. It has:
professionals and practitioners
abstractions and concepts
formats, jargon, rules
capabilities, skills
competitors, look-alikes, allies

Information Science

Mental constructs and reality�
We have various �mental constructs� that we use to talk about �reality,� and these are the constituents or elements of �messages.�They attempt to:
describe reality
explain reality
modify reality
replace reality

These mental constructs�
include:
data
information
knowledge
wisdom

Slide 19

These mental constructs�
include:
data
information
knowledge
wisdom
And they can be highly intertwined�

These mental constructs�
include:
data � �The big hand is on 8.�

These mental constructs�
include:
information � �It is 10:08 a.m.�

These mental constructs�
include:
knowledge � �I have two minutes to get to class.�

These mental constructs�
include:
wisdom � �What?!!I thought the exam was on the 4th!� Are you sure?��

From Data to Information to Knowledge
Concrete and practical
Abstract and academic

From Data�
�Data� is the raw material of IS/IT:
bits:0/1, +/-, on/off
characters (letters and numbers)
the subject of communication theory, AKA �information theory� (Claude Shannon).This is one of the places where computer science and information science meet.

A digression on �info theory�
Shannon�s first level of problems:
accurate transmission of symbols (the technical problem)
For ex., sending the first 15 digits of p (pi):
3.141592603589793
should be
3.141592653589793

A digression on �info theory�
Shannon�s second level of problems:
precise communication of meaning (the semantic problem)
Most �messages� have redundancy:
Cn yu rd ths sntnce?
W_lc_m_t_th__n_v_rs_ty_t_lb_ny

A digression on �info theory�
Shannon�s third level of problems:
effective influence of behavior (the effectiveness problem)
This can be oral, written, visual, musical, or more.

A digression on �info theory�
Shannon�s three levels of problems:
accurate transmission � technical
precise meaning � semantic
effective influence � behavioral
To the extent they apply, we will focus more on the middle, semantic level, but we will need to understand something about all three.

A digression on �info theory�
Shannon�s three levels of problems:
accurate transmission � technical � CSI
precise meaning � semantic � ISP
effective influence � behavioral � COM
Indeed, students in these three majors should, in principle, know something about each of these three topics.

Informatics

Data to Information�
�Information� is organized data (relations):
bit strings � 11111010011
character strings � K37 9RT
higher organized units, such as words and images � Dave, Jamaica, music

�Information to Knowledge
�Knowledge� is useful information (patterns):
2003 in binary is 11111010011.
The license plate on a car is K37 9RT.
One of Dave�s fantasies would be to move to Jamaica and earn his living as a musician.
These provide meaning.

Slide 35

Distinguishing among the �constructs�
What is this?
Data?
Info?
Knowledge?
n.Each

Distinguishing among the �constructs�
How about this?
Data?
Info?
Knowledge?

Transmission of knowledge�
Genetics/Inheritance
Modelling/Mimicry
Accident/Adaptation
Teaching/Learning
Storage/Retrieval
passive
purposeful

Slide 39