[Fis] Five Clouds over Fundamental Information Science

[Xueshan Yan]

Dear colleagues,

I have summarized five sets of puzzles faced by fundamental information
science and called them 'clouds' ― some of which have been emphasized by
Pedro on many occasions. I am now glade to hear everyone's different
opinions.

 

Best wishes,

Xueshan Yan

Professor Emeritus

Department of Information Management

Peking University, China

 

 

 

Five Clouds over Fundamental Information Science

Xueshan Yan

Inforware*: Information must exist in signs, and signs must exist on
substrates**. We define a trinity composed of information, sign, and
substrate as an Inforware.

Four Concomitant Disciplines: Based on the structure of an inforware, we
have Informatics for studying information, and Semiotics for studying
signs―the existence mode of information. Since communication is the
transmission of information and computation is the processing of
information, we also have another two fundamental disciplines: Communication
Studies and Computation Studies. These four disciplines are concomitant;
that is, if one is present, the other three (or more) will eventually
emerge.

Cloud 1. Information and Meaning: What is information? Since 1948,
information scientists have been discussing it for 76 years, yet still
cannot provide a definitive answer. What is meaning? Since 1825, linguists
have been debating it for 200 years and still cannot reach a definitive
conclusion. Nevertheless, linguistics has been established successfully.
Let’s consider a hypothesis: if we were to suspend all discussions about
the definition of information for three years, what else could we do? >From a
human perspective, are information and meaning two homogenous issues? Or are
they two different expressions of one existence?

Cloud 2. Brain Informatics or Animal Informatics: It has been demonstrated
that any organism with a brain inforware can communicate with others;
therefore, brain informatics must exist, ―storing, sending, and receiving
information are fundamental functions of the brain―, and human informatics
already exists. Similarly, we could explore bee informatics, elephant
informatics, and so on. Can we assume that there are as many types of animal
informatics as there are animal species?

Cloud 3. Genetics as a Discipline of Informatics: Cells can communicate. The
central dogma of molecular biology describes the pathway of DNA→RNA→
protein, through which genetic information flows. In this process, DNA
serves as substrate, bases function as signs, and genomics represents
informatics. If we propose that genetics is the most successful branch of
informatics, what would be the response from biologists? Could a similar
phenomenon also be observed in neuroscience and endocrinology?

Cloud 4. Communication between Inforwares: Some speculate that two
supramolecules can communicate with each other. But can two ordinary
molecules communicate? Can two atoms communicate? Can two celestial bodies
communicate? Can plants communicate with one another? Can different
inforwares communicate across different levels? Is the communication between
humans and cats true communication (language comprehension) or false
communication (conditional reflex)?

Cloud 5. Exploration of Fundamental Information Science: Can we regard
fundamental information science as an exploration based on the inductive
method, focusing on the commonalities among various fundamental information
disciplines, especially the four concomitant disciplines mentioned above?
The complexity and enormity of this venture have far exceeded anyone's
imagination. Is it one of the most challenging disciplines to study in
contemporary times? Or, does it not exist at all?

---------------------

*Any discipline has its own concept framework, which is why I coined the new
term Inforware. For example, the computer science is built on the two
primary concepts of hardware and software.

**Studies focused solely on substrates typically fall under the technical or
natural sciences rather than information science.

 

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