INFORMATION: AN Analysis of the Word from Information Scientist's point of view

INFORMATION: An Analysis of the word from Information Scientist’s point of View 

By Dr P Vyasamoorthy

The Word ‘Information’ has fascinated me for a long time than any other word. This may be because I chose to become an Information Scientist as early as 1966, when most people did not know anything about this profession. During the course on my long tenure I had to give lectures relating to Library & information science students and librarians. During such lecturers, my favorite “time-filler” is the following piece on the word Information itself.

An Information Scientist produces, procures, processes and provides relevant information to specified groups of users, speedily at optimum cost.

The Word Information tells several things to the Information Scientist (=IS for short). There are many words within it like: In, for, at, on, form etc. In fact, there are fifteen, as far as I could count. Let us look at each of them by turn.

The IS should give information IN the language known to the user. The document you have may be in a language not familiar to user. This calls for translation, transliteration and interpretation. Why transliteration you may ask. I know Telugu – only to understand when it is spoken – can not read or write. If a piece of text is transliterated into English, I can read it out and understand.

The IS should offer information FOR a specific purpose, use, need etc. He must know why it is being asked. Knowing why helps him tailor the answer. If the info is for an exam, even bazaar notes might be enough! If it is for a writing a scholarly article authenticated, credible info is required.

The IS should give information in the FORM or FORMAT best suited to the customer. This may involve reducing the information procured into some table, chart etc. Tables, figures, charts are better than mere text. If the user is expert he may be satisfied with text itself and may not go for simplification of presentation.

The user may require information AT a specified place or AT a specified cost. May be he wants the info to be delivered to his desktop via computer network or he only wants a paper print couriered to his branch office where he would look it up. He might place restrictions on cost of supply. Info may be required AT (or before) a specified time: A student needs it before examinations. A teacher needs it before taking classes.

The word OR in Information indicates substitute or surrogate or alternate ways in which the users needs may be fulfilled. For instance, a news item on a topic can be sourced from many newspapers and the user may be interested in just the news per-se and not bother about your getting it from The Hindu or Economic Times. If his needs are comprehensive then many newspaper items need to be read for removal of duplicate info.

The word ION indicates that information is ionic in nature. Like an ion (chemistry) it is unstable. An ion accepts or releases and electron and becomes stable. Similarly only when it is put to use or acted upon, it gets stabilized in the user. It is the duty of the IS to provide therefore usable, useful and actionable information. ION also signifies nascency or newness. Many prefer new or just produced info.

Obviously the IS always looks for information ON a specific topic, ON a specific application etc. This aspect is so important that it is always implied and intrinsic when the IS searches for information for a customer. Which reference librarian has not heard: “I want information ON ….”

INFORM is a verb denoting that the job of IS consists of dissemination, distribution, broadcast or dissipation of information after gathering and processing it to suit the user.

This is one of the most active steps in Information usage cycle. The job of the IS is not complete if he does not push info on to his clients.

Leading all other words, the word I is at the very beginning of all others.  ‘I’ denotes self and Ego. The IS must have enough sense of pride in himself and realize that the job that he is doing fulfills an important gap in societal needs. Unless impelled by Ego-satisfaction, no useful job can be completed.

FORMATION indicates arrangement of things or organization of items etc in desirable ways.  After gathering information, it has to be re-arranged or re-grouped in some proper order depending upon user’s requirements.

There is a queer word FORMA**. This means informal, not much serious etc. The user may not be very serious in knowing everything on the topic or  may be. Find out his intent and serve him accordingly. 

Least of all the words in Information, you might think is MAT. However to my mind MAT symbolizes simplicity, as the commoner’s sleeping accessory is MAT. To sleep when you are tired you do not need sophisticated Cot, pillows, and cushions – a simple mat or mattress will do. Similarly when a user wants info, do not flood him with lots of info. Keep it simple, short and to the point – bare minimum. Just like MAT satisfies sleeping requirements in dire needs.

INFO, though an abbreviation of the word Information, has its own existence as a word too.  INFO is something that is delivered and understood by a person that eliminates or reduces uncertainty. IS has to ensure that this quality has to be kept in mind while hunting for information.

Finally we should not forget that INFORMATION itself is THE word that governs every aspect of the life of an IS. It is, like god: omnipresent – available everywhere, omniscient -  accompanies wise people and omnipotent – makes the possessor very powerful.. If properly put to use, with the help of IS, reader can reach GOD!! Well, that at least is my firm belief.

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** added due to courtesy Prof V Seshadri !