ABSTRACT

Information is everywhere, and defines everything in today's society. Moreover, information is a key concept in a wide range of academic disciplines, from quantum physics to public policy. However, these disciplines all interpret the concept in quite different ways. This book looks at information in several different academic disciplines - cybernetics, ICT, communications theory, semiotics, information systems, library science, linguistics, quantum physics and public policy.

Perspectives on Information brings clarity and coherence to different perspectives through promoting information as a unifying concept across the disciplinary spectrum. Though conceived as a contribution to the ongoing conversation between academic disciplines into the nature of information, the deliberately accessible style of this text (reflecting the authors’ backgrounds at The Open University) will be make it valuable for anyone who needs to know something more about information. Given the ubiquity of information in the 21st century, that means everyone.

chapter 1|7 pages

Introduction

chapter 3|15 pages

‘The Information Revolution'

Taking a Long View

chapter 4|15 pages

Information, Meaning and Context

chapter 5|14 pages

Signs and Signals

chapter 6|12 pages

Fundamentals of Information

Purposeful Activity, Meaning and Conceptualisation

chapter 8|15 pages

Information and Libraries

Impact of Web 2.0

chapter 9|15 pages

Three Principles of Information Flow

Conversation as a Dialogue Game

chapter 10|13 pages

Quantum Information

chapter 11|20 pages

Information Policy Making

Developing the Rules of the Road for the Information Society (or the Anatomy of a Digital Economy Act)

chapter 12|6 pages

Conclusion