INFORMATION (Potential)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1669 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Epistemology, ontology or semantics |
As noted by D. GERNERT, information may exist in a potential form (or structural form) as for example in a crystal (2000, p. 255)
The use of two different terms — structural, potential- is very useful; for a better understanding of the nature of information.
A crystal is an ordered structure , would we say. But to say it in that way implies a semantic ambiguity. In fact the structure becomes apparent only to somebody who is able:
1)to observe it by sight or using an appropriate device
2)to make sense of what can be seen “Potential” information becomes effective only after passing through perception first, and interpretation next.
This becomes still clarer when we find out that deformations in our perception and spurious interpretation (i.e. that does not allow us to act efficiently on the base of our view) can lead us completely astray-even if structural information has not changed, i.e. is still there potentially within the crystal.