Information in relation to data

A colleague in the library-world opened my eyes to viewing the word ‘information’ differently from how it is commonly used, by relating it to ‘data’.

Most people label any string of words, sometimes accompanied by pictures,  ‘ information’.

A range of brochures in a corner is ‘ information’.
Google gives ‘ information’.
The time table in the bus stop gives ‘information’.
The phone book gives ‘information’.

Seen from the perspective of this information specialist in the library, they don’t.

Her take on it was to reserve the word ‘ information’ for the result of combining relevant data in such a way that the end-user perceives it as meaningful, because it answers a specific question; it solves a specific problem for that person in their situation.

I follow her line of thought, since it gives so much clarity on what is going on ‘under the bonnet’.

In our perception, we would say that the creators and distributors of things like: brochures, Google, the time table and the phone book have combined raw data in such a way that it becomes easier for anybody to access. People can consult these products  when their (the end-users!) questions and problems are related to the topic(s) of the selection of data the creators have pre-structured ( and sometimes (not always!!!) produced).

The confusion starts when somebody makes the ‘raw data’ of ‘chosen solutions and their outcomes as experienced by them as an end-user’ available to others..... 

People have called a certain arrangement of combined data relevant in their situation (so to them it is information) and would like to share it with others, in similar situations, as an option to choose from. They write a website about it, write a review about it, talk about it, etcetera.....

So, in the eyes of the maker, the creator, it is (or surely has been) information.

Not only that, they feel a drive to share it, since they consider this chosen combination of data to be worth repeating or avoiding by others.... for reasons meaningful to them.
More meaning (time, energy, strong feelings) is added to the combination of data, by the creator.

Which is fine, wonderful creations have sprung from that drive. Creations we all use and love, since it makes life so much easier....

We don’t  have to crawl and assess personally through all the raw data at any given time.
Which in itself would be a mission impossible!

Picture planning a day out to the zoo, without all these wonderful creations from others!

For a start, unless, you have seen the zoo yourself before, stumbled upon it by accident, you wouldn’t know it existed. Try planning to go to a place you don’t know it exists!
Say you do know it exists.

Then, finding out when it is open, would mean going there, to see.
How to get there without a plan and an address, to create directions with?
Maybe by bus or train? Where does this bus go, where does that train stop would be trial and error without timetables and other signs giving you access to the raw, underlying data.

But that there is a bus leaving from platform A at 10.30 in Dogcity on Sunday 31th of May 2015, arriving at to the National Treasury Zoo in Catbury at 11.15, is only a high contender candidate to become information to somebody who is considering to chose that as an option, because he wants to go to the Zoo in Catbury and happens to be in Dogcity just before 10.30.

To a person who has different circumstances and plans, it is of no significance what so ever.

Then, having arrived in the zoo that happens to be open, you just have to find your way through the park, all by yourself. You have no clue what the animals are you are looking at, nor has anybody else.

This thought experiment shows how much our experiences have a strong relation with what others  before us have structured, given meaning and are willing to share with us.
So strong is that relation, that we (as a species) tend to forget that what is presented to us, is actually a representation of sets of data..... an option, a way of looking at it.

Although we are bombarded nowadays with options to look at (somebody else’s ‘ information’) we have forgotten how to actively look at relevant data and create and arrange it into the meaningful order called information and make relevant choices from that, ourselves!
Those choices, in words and deeds, that best answer relevant questions and problems for us in the world in which you (and we all)  live now.

If this intrigues you and you feel your information and decision making skills could do with an update.... ?

I recommend:
Combine some of the data presented and structured on this blog (very loosely structured,  in fuzzy logic... deliberately!, with the aim to encourage you to not-see it as information......!), with data you retrieve from your situation, right now and play with it.

Enjoy!