Info300

Reading Notes 0928

First Reading: Diener, R. A. V. (1989, June/July). Information science: What is it?… What should it be? Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science, 17.

  • After reading through Diener’s four fundamental ideas about information, reply to the question, “What is information science”

It seems to me that Information science attempts to understand information on some sort of axiomatic level and aims to develop theories based upon this understanding. There do seem to be a dizzying number of proposed postulates, however.

  • What do you think information science should be?
  • Why does information science need a fundamental core?

Without a fundamental core, there is no assurance that we are not building a house of cards, and working based on false pretenses.

  • What elements make up this core?

Second Reading: Skovira, R. J. (1989, June/July). Pluralism in information science. Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science, 18–19.

Note: SIG/FIS stands for “Special Interest Group (in the American Society for Information Science, now American Society for Information Science and Technology) / Foundations of Information Science).

  • How does the identity problem of practitioners of information science relate to the assumption of the commensurability of models?
  • What are some characteristics of interdisciplinarity?
  • Discuss why pluralism is a double bind. In other words, how is it both desirable and undesirable at the same time?
  • Discuss some reasons why Skovira chooses informational situations as a way of distinguishing between what is pluralism and what is not.
  • One could argue with Skovira’s assertion that “it is not information which defines the ‘information system’, but the system … which defines the information.” How might you argue with Skovira on this point?

Third Reading: Horn, R. E. (1999). Information design: Emergence of a new profession. In R. Jacobson (Ed.) Information design (pp. 15–33). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

  • What are the three major goals of information design?
  • What are the two factors that led to the emergence of information design as a profession?
  • Summarize the history of information design as a profession from the perspective of those who have contributed to its emergence. Make sure to discussion some types of contribution made by these various groups.
  • On p. 17, Horn lists a variety of professional areas or fields that include information design. His list is missing some fields. Write down any that you know about.
  • In the middle of p. 24, the results of a study on understanding symbols is presented. What are the ramifications of this result for information design?
  • Summarize the five problems faced by the profession of information design.
  • Summarize the nature of the relationship between information design and visual language.
  • Discuss the two major shifts to which research is calling attention.
  • Why is there an emphasis on research in this chapter, do you think?