Philosophy of ICT and Islam Lecture 3 Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom

Learning Outcome Understand the hierarchy of knowledge and how data, information, knowledge and wisdom are related. Being able to distinguish between data, information, knowledge and wisdom.

Terminology Data Simple raw facts that are isolated and not processed. The sources of data could include measurements, raw output from experiments, etc. Information Relating individual raw facts and giving it meaning. Knowledge Analysis and identification of information patterns. Wisdom Using knowledge in decision making.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom It is important to make a distinction between data, information, knowledge and wisdom. Certainly, they are related and dependent on each other.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) The hierarchy of knowledge, shown in Figure below is usually used to present the different levels of knowledge and how they are related.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) At the base of the hierarchy is data that represent simple raw facts. The sources of data could include measurements, raw output from experiments, etc. Such facts are isolated and not processed. Data can be in the form of numbers, strings of text, symbols, pictures, etc. An example of data is a bookstore database containing raw data records of books, author details, etc.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) When individual facts are structured, aggregated and put a meaningful context, information is produced Establishing relations between individual facts and giving it some meaning results in information. For example, a bookstore database query that returns all books published after 2008 produces information. In computing, processing data gives information.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) The interpretation of information gives knowledge Identifying patterns in information to make it useful produces knowledge. For example, when the number of books published after 2008 are determined and presented year by year, based on query information, then knowledge is produced. Thus, knowledge is derived from information by grasping its meaning.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) Finally applying knowledge and using it in decision making leads to wisdom. Making a decision to order more books published in 2011 is wisdom

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) An example to illustrate the above concepts, consider Ahmed’s grade in the ICT & Islamic Perspective course: Data: Ahmed’s grade is A. Raw fact.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) Information: Ahmed’s mark is more than 80%. Putting meaning to the data. Knowledge: Ahmed passed the ICT & Islamic Perspective course. Analysis of information. Wisdom: Ahmed will be appointed as a teaching assistant for this course next year. Making a decision based on knowledge.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom (Cont.) Ahmed’s grade is A. Raw fact. Ahmed’s mark is more than 80%. Putting meaning to the data. Ahmed passed the ICT & Islamic Perspective course. (Analysis of information). Ahmed will be appointed as a teaching assistant for this course next year.

Summary In this lesson, the following topics were discussed: Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.