| Our goal in this book is to present our conceptualization of information and of knowledge, and to clarify the distinctions between these two concepts. Indeed, they are more than concepts. These two words convey a plurality of meanings and have a deep character that goes beyond pure conceptualizations. By emphasizing their distinctions, we do not try to set them apart. On the contrary, we connect and relate them, whilst avoiding reductionist projections of one to the other and potential confusions resulting from the overlapping of their meanings.
We believe this can be useful for computer systems designers and programmers, especially those designing and implementing complex information systems and computer products in general. The distinctions between information and knowledge can help a designer to increase his/her awareness of the process of creative abstraction inherent to any design process, thus helping to situate and integrate the design activity in a wider context and a wider perspective of the concrete world that hosts the products of design. |
