Information is one of the most important that humanity has. It would be difficult to imagine our culture, and even the people themselves, if it did not exist. What is called information? What properties does she have? What types are they divided into? What is meant by information processes? How is it perceived? The author will try to answer these and many other questions within the framework of the article.
What is called information: its types
Information means the meaning that is contained in the objects of the surrounding reality. It can be perceived as
sound vibrations or reflections from the surfaces of objects. Based on the field of application, the following levels of information are distinguished:
- socio-political;
- physiological;
- socio-economic;
- scientific and technical;
- chemical and biological.
It is also possible to carry out the division into types, depending on its method of presentation:
- textual information;
- graphic;
- symbolic;
- sound.
There is a division into types of information, depending on its internal nature.
- Constant (static) or variable (dynamic).
- Input (primary), intermediate (derivative) and final (output).
- Managing and informative.
- Subjective and objective.
The semantic load distinguishes unprofitable or useful information.
If there is a desire to understand the nuances by which the information is presented, computer science will help to more fully understand the relationships that exist between different data. In this case, it is best to familiarize yourself with cybernetics, which explores the possibilities of influencing information to achieve the desired result. And this article only claims to provide a theoretical basis.
Information Properties
When a person receives any data, he checks them against the following parameters:
- fullness;
- value;
- reliability;
- relevance;
- clarity;
- persuasiveness;
- brevity.
Now consider how environmental data is perceived.
Perception of information
It is not difficult to understand that five senses are used for this: hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch. Moreover, about 90% of all data falls on the first two.
Information that can be perceived by a person in written or verbal form is called symbolic or symbolic. So, if we consider the Russian language, then our text is formed from letters, numbers, dots, commas, brackets and similar designations. But these signs are not considered written, but sound. Linguists designate them as phonemes. Words are formed from them, and then phrases. And this state of affairs is not strange, because at first there was speech, and only then writing.
What is figurative information?
This is a specific
data type that cannot be shifted into a specific sequence. That is, it cannot be represented as text, diagram, or something like that.
Imaginative information is something that does not need iconic communication channels. For her, one amorphous is enough. In other words, it does not have a specific physical medium, a distinct structure and clear boundaries.
Figurative information is vibration, light, and similar elements. So, the sun emits rays in all directions. It is a source of light, but not by itself. Imagine the media in this case is impossible. Of course, we know that there are particles such as photons, and they are light, but we cannot display them in an understandable form as a notebook or a printout of a text file.
Figurative information is an aspect that, despite the impossibility of ordinary expression, is extremely valuable. So, if a volcano wakes up and the earth trembles (or there is simply a high probability of such a process), then although there are no specific prerequisites, everyone understands that it is better not to build a house in this place - the probability of destruction is very high.
What is iconic information?
Sign information refers to data that can be encoded in a specific sequence of characters. They can be stated as text, formulas, diagrams and more. This is the so-called classical information, which is the object of study of cybernetics and acts as the basis of modern information technology.
Data of this type can be converted into a sequence of bits that can be transmitted over a communication channel. Then comes the subsequent decryption and familiarization with the contents. As you can see, those features of information are manifested here that it can be transmitted without loss or with a slight distortion of meaning.
Data transfer
Information between people can be transmitted through writing or speech. All possible options are called communication languages. The sign form also applies to them. It is divided into such types:
- Natural languages. This includes everything that has an oral and written form: Belarusian, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovenian and others.
- Formal (artificial) languages. Examples include mathematical, physical, musical records, as well as program code.
Each of the languages presented is equipped with its own alphabet, which means a set of characters representing specific characters. If we talk about formal languages, the process of creating and using them is easier, thanks to the ability to provide data in an unambiguous sense.
The processes
Information is processed, stored and transmitted. To do this, certain actions are performed, which are called processes.
For storage, external media can be used: papyrus, parchment, paper, film, disks, flash drives and more. Moreover, if you look carefully, a person himself is a repository of information: it is in the brain and genes.
Transmission is a two-way process in which there is always a source (sender) and a receiver (receiver). As a communication channel , telecommunication facilities (radio, television, computer networks) or air that carries sound waves can be used. The sources and receivers of data can be non / animated objects.
Storage
People store information either in their own memory or on external media. What we remember is always available to us. An example is the home address, your phone number. But to call someone with whom communication is not regular, you will need to already use a notebook.
Drawing analogies with a computer, human memory can be called operational, i.e. such that instantly reproduces the stored information. And what about the data of encyclopedias, directories, disks? They are the external memory of man.
Due to insecurity, both types are used. In addition, with the help of external memory , knowledge can be transmitted between generations, while maintaining their high accuracy. And together they are stored general information that is accessible to humans.
Broadcast
It should be noted that we often have to take part in the process of data exchange. One of the two important components is the
transmission of information. It can be carried out during a direct conversation, through correspondence or using technical means of communication: television, radio, telephone. Each person alternately changes the role of source and receiver, depending on the activity.
During the transmission, data may be distorted or lost if the quality of the information channels leaves much to be desired. Remember talking on the phone when there was a bad connection.
There are various types of gears. So, textual information is performed on certain media: papyrus, parchment, paper. But this is not the only option. Useful information can be transmitted generally on any medium: tablets, shards, hard drives and other objects.
Treatment
This is the last kind of information process. Let's start with a well-known example - solving a mathematical problem. Suppose we have the values of the sides of the rectangle, and we need to find its area. To solve the problem, in addition to a certain set of data, we also need to know the mathematical rule with which we can achieve our goal. In this case, the processing process consists in the fact that we obtain new information using calculations performed on the original.
But this is only one of the possible options. And not every processing process is a mathematical calculation. Remember the contents of Arthur Conan Doyle's books about Sherlock Holmes. The main character as source information has only confusing testimonies of people (often also contradictory) and indirect evidence. But with the help of logical reasoning, Holmes still managed to clarify the events and expose the criminals. Similar actions can be seen and familiarized with modern forensics.
So, human logic is also a system of rules, due to which data is processed, and one information is obtained on the basis of another. But that is not all. The processing process does not have to be associated with obtaining new data or information.
Take a look at the language teachers who check the essays “What I want to be when I grow up” or “My adventures in the summer”. They conduct a search for errors, correct them and give appropriate ratings. This is also one of the possible options for data processing. And this process is carried out without making changes to their contents. It is difficult to imagine a situation when a teacher will add new facts or points of view to the essay. It changes only the form, not the contents.
Another example is the translation of a test into another language. Again, a change is made to the form, but not the contents. And the final example of information processing is its coding, during which it gets a look that will greatly complicate the reading for everyone who does not intend to.