Posted by Paul Gallagher on June 05, 1999 at 16:31:29:

In Reply to: What is the difference between information and explicit knowledge? posted by Kees de Vos on June 02, 1999 at 17:36:29:

I think fundamentally data, information and knowledge are the same, we distinguish between them with regard to degree of usefulness and abstraction.

In all 3 instances, we are refering to a true judgement of "Something is __." For example: Data - The temperature at time t=2 is 30 degrees. Information - The orientation of the windshield wiper blade for correct installation is __", Knowledge: The correct series of steps to replace a windshield wiper are __, __,...."

There is true existence, and we know about it. The temperature being 30 degrees is independent of our knowing. When we learn (or "know") the temperature, it is data to us.

I think it also helps to distinguish between our knowing something and how it is communicated to us. Words, written or spoken, are symbols for concepts, symbols that both the speaker (or writer) and hearer understand in the same way, which allow communication of concepts. The transmission and capturing of these symbols (taping a conversation, writing a book) are all means of communication and in and of themselves are not knowledge. Knowledge is what is known, existing only in peoples minds. Books and IT allow communication in ways that reach many people. It is tempting to say that they "store knowledge" because this is true in a loose sense, but not in the strictest sense. The allow the communication of knowledge from one knower to many, accross space and time, but always ultimately between knowers.

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• Re: What is the difference between information and explicit knowledge? Kees de Vos 21:25:52 6/05/99 (0)

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