Information Science

Information is defined as: knowledge communicated by others or obtained by investigation, study, or instruction; facts and ideas presented in a meaningful form; a representation or model of some aspect of the real world. Our ability to create models, gather information, and convey that information is attributed to cognition. Information can be transferred through several methods, such as, data, text, image, voice, or any combination thereof.

Data - most elementary form; a string of letters and numbers.
Text - more meaningful; written phrases and sentences.
Image - pictorial form; pictures, charts, graphs, drawings.
Voice - spoken phrases and sentences.

Science is defined as a technique or skill that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge. Therefore, information science is the field of study concerned with all phases of knowledge communication, the information transfer process, and the investigation of the needs of information systems' users. Historically, information science dates back to roots around 669-630 B.C., and the cuneiforms in Ninevah.

A strict view of information science can be seen as the intersection of the following fields.

Information Theory - cybernetics, linguistics, formal logic, systems science.
Information Technology - hypertext, electrical engineering, computer programming.
Service Oriented Functions - libraries, networks, information center management (see also management science).

Information specialists deal with the organization, storage, and retrieval of information. They also may be involved with abstracting and indexing, systems analysis, computer programming, cataloging, and classifying. Because the transfer, storage, and retrieval of information relies largely on computer systems, information science is closely tied to computer science.

The need for concise, clear information on environmental issues is crucial in order to make intelligent choices regarding the future of our ecological system (see also ecology and environmental/earth sciences). For example, authorities who determine environmental regulations need accurate, relevant environmental information from which to base their decisions. This relation, between information science and environmental informatics, has lead to the development of several on-line global networks. "Ecolinking", a term used by Don Rittner, is the use of computer technology by people with environmental concerns to discuss and voice their concerns, their research, and their ideas. The main networks are FidoNet, BITNET, Usenet, and Internet. These networks connect millions of students, business people, environmentalists, scientists, professionals, and researchers in over 40 countries (see also communication science).

FidoNet - called "the people's network", consists of over 10,000 bulletin boards.
BITNET - "Because It's Time NETwork", links 38 countries and 2,000 acedemic and research institutions.
Usenet - "user's network", consists of newgroups and public series of conferences with 250,000 readers and 18,000 hosts.
Internet - "Universal network", is a conglomeration of over 2,200 smaller networks connecting 3 million users and 50,000 hosts.

Commercial on-line services are also available. Several are listed below.

America Online - many online services including the Environmental Forum which holds public discussions and debates on any environmental issue.
Compuserve - many online services including the Network Earth Forum and the SafetyNet forum.
EcoNet - "the Environmental Network" founded in 1987. Holds conferences supported by 200 international environmental organizations.
The Well - "Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link" is a conferencing system for a wide range of issues. The Environmental conference deals with environmental issues.

References

Compiled by

Eric Schactman eds1@cec.wustl.edu Last updated 10/29/94