Information is a basic concept of 20th-century science.
According to our scientific physical worldview, the material particles and objects in our world constantly exchange energy in the four-dimensional space-time continuum while their order changes.
Information is somehow connected to the spatial and temporal distribution and orderliness of these materials and energies. Information can be examined in different aspects (from different viewpoints) as well:
- Information can be an intel, a report, or some kind of notice about a given person, subject, or situation.
- Information can be any kind of news that gives us necessary information about uncertainty.
- Information can be the special meaning of a given symbol group, which also carries information about a given object.
- Information can be used to determine how orderly a structured object is.
Information is an abstract concept that represents the orderliness of the constantly interacting material structures in our universe.
Definition:
Information is both quantitative and qualitative. It is the characteristic of those groups that carry static and structural meaning (and constantly react to each other).
Information can help an individual achieve goals by enhancing that person's knowledge.
The properties of information form a hierarchical structure
Researchers in this area usually describe 3 to 5 levels in this structure.
The most widely accepted structural layout is the 4-layer structure, but the following model may have 5 layers.
The multi-level model of information suits several kinds of analyses (depending on the aspect).
Information's quantitative properties are defined by the static and syntactical laws of encoding, while its qualitative properties are defined by semantic and pragmatic laws.
Different approaches/levels
1.) The statistical approach examines the measurability of information. This level deals with the quantitative aspect of information. It focuses on measuring and transmitting data, emphasizing volume, redundancy, and entropy in a communication system. This approach is highly relevant in fields such as information theory (e.g., Shannon's theory), where the goal is to determine the efficiency of information encoding, transmission, and storage without considering the content or meaning of the data.
Example: Measuring how much data can be transmitted over a communication channel while minimizing errors.
2.) The Syntactical approach examines formal qualities using coding and language theory. The syntactical level concerns the formal structures and patterns used to represent information. This includes rules governing how symbols, letters, or words are combined according to a predefined set of grammar or syntax rules. The focus here is on structure rather than meaning, making this layer important in language theory and coding theory.
Example: Correctly encoding a message into a sequence of bits following a defined protocol.
3.) The semantic approach examines the meaning of the so-called informational primitives according to given semiotic and signal theories. At this level, the focus shifts to the information's meaning. The semantic layer interprets symbols, determines their relevance, and clarifies the relationship between the symbols and what they represent. This is critical for communication theory, linguistics, and semiotics, where the message's meaning must be extracted and understood.
Example: Understanding the meaning of a sentence based on the relationship between words and what they represent in the world.
4.) Pragmatic approach seeks the effect of information according to the results/reactions and the related behaviours. The pragmatic level evaluates how the information affects the receiver's behavior or decision-making process. It concerns the usefulness of the information and analyzes how the receiver reacts or changes based on the conveyed message. This is relevant in decision theory and behavioral sciences.
Example: How a user responds to a weather alert by preparing for a storm.
5.) The Apobetical approach focuses on the sender's intent and the receiver's results. It has less meaning from an engineering point of view. The apobetical level focuses on the intent behind the transmission of information and the desired outcome. It examines the purpose for which the information is sent and how effectively it fulfills the sender's goal. Although less prominent in engineering, this level is significant in communication design and strategy.
Example: Sending a marketing message intended to persuade a customer to buy a product.