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The WRG Newsletter

ISSN 1530-8847
October 2004

Types of Information

"The world can be seen as only connections, nothing else. A piece of information
is really only defined by what it's related to, and how it's related. There really is
little else to meaning. The structure is everything." - Tim Berners-Lee

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Speaking with a colleague the other day about how some architecture firms
rely upon interns to perform research for the firm, and what that says about
the strategy of a firm - whether the firm is serious about innovation or just
giving it lip-service - an analogy came to mind.

The diamond district in New York City is world famous for the wide
variety and quality of diamonds and gems one can purchase. I doubt
any 5th Avenue jeweler sends their interns to buy the jewels for
their world-renowned jewelry designs.

Research for an architecture firm is just the same - it can be priceless and
result in a jewel of a building - such as the technology research that Gehry's
firm invested in to design the EMP and other signature building design
techniques (using CATIA) - it can be meaningless paste and have no impact
upon the firm's work, or countless variations in between. Research can bring
new design insights to the behavior of sports arena crowds; the effects of
overcrowded offices on workers; a list of materials proven to prevent alzheimer's
patients from wandering. Just as with architecture, the possibilities are endless.

The bottom-line about research is the same as design and marketing. A firm, it's
staff and their clients receive the benefits of consistency and quality of effort and
materials. Consider the importance and impact of investing in the finest, latest
research for your firm's projects.

"The future of work consists of learning a living."
- Marshall McLuhan

This month's issue is devoted to types of or categories of information. Everyone
receiving this newsletter is able to find information using a search engine. A key
to better searching is understanding which category or type of information that
is needed in order to increase the accuracy and quality of retrievals.

A published statistic in a magazine, a conference paper on patient wandering,
a project case study, a materials database, a cost per square foot of sheet metal
ducting, a regional demographic of second-home buyers.... Each of these pieces
of information exists in a 'place'; primarily in an electronic format and
retrievable according to access either free or for-fee. But where?

I have gathered several links for you on the subject of information types. Note
that these are focused upon information *about* information, perhaps easiest
to think of as types of information or a 'structure' of the world of information.

<>

Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center
Sonoma State University, University Library

http://libweb.sonoma.edu/assistance/research/typeinfo.html

<>

Penn Online Research Tutorial

http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/PORT/sourceshome.htm

<>

"To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events. It is to
perceive the essential nature of things. The best-informed man is not necessarily
the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge
he will lose sight of what is essential. But on the other hand, knowledge of an
apparently trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things.
And so the wise man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events,
but always without becoming dependent upon this knowledge. To recognize the
significant in the factual is wisdom." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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