Pictorial Metaphors for Information (What is Information?)

A perennial question in Information Science is, "What is Information?" After reviewing definitions from the literature, this video presents an alternative visual approach based upon the draw-and-write technique. "Pictorial metaphors" drawn by people are used as a source for new insights into information as Earth, Web, Tree, Cloud, Box, Light Bulb, and Eye. A conclusion claims that the visual perspective is more accessible, artful, sensual, and spacious than long-standing definitions made of words.

00:00 – Opening
00:23 – Quick Review of Definitions of “Information”
00:30 – The DIKW Sequence
00:48 – Brookes’ Fundamental Equation of Information Science
01:07 – Buckland’s Information-as-Thing
01:24 – Social Conceptions of Information
01:36 – Bates’ Fundamental Forms of Information
01:58 – Two Shortcomings of Existing Definitions
02:15 – An Alternative Approach
02:20 – The iSquare Research Program
02:32 – The Draw-and-Write Technique
02:53 – Analyzing iSquares
03:13 – Pictorial Metaphors for Information
03:38 – The Research Questions
04:29 – The Most Prevalent Pictorial Metaphors for Information
04:52 – Earth
05:46 – Web
07:13 – Tree
08:34 – Cloud
09:53 – Box
10:50 – Light Bulb
11:37 – Eye
13:00 – Conclusion (Contributions of the Pictorial Metaphors)
13:21 – History and Culture
13:54 – Nature
14:20 – Vitality, Beauty, and Charm
14:48 – The Mysterious Woman Flies Away