Importance of Information: Its Role in Knowledge, Decision, Society and Style
Chapter 1: Introduction to Information Technology
Introduction
Since the beginning, humans have needed information, whether for survival or for running their business smoothly.
In ancient times, people lived without any records, but as society developed, it became necessary to keep information safe.
According to historians, since 3500 BC, people started writing and saving data in some form or the other.
Even today we record and process information, but due to technology, this work has become much faster and easier.
In this chapter, you will learn the basic concepts of data, information and data processing.
After reading this, you will be able to understand how important information technology (IT) is to our world.
Concepts of Information
Computers and Information
Computers have made our lives easier by increasing our capabilities and efficiency.
Computers make work much faster and more accurate, such as:
Sorting mailing lists
Balancing ledgers
Type-setting books
Sending documents far away through e-mail
Computers are data processors, i.e., it processes raw data into information.
But what is the difference between data and information? Let us understand this.
Difference between data and information
What is data?
Data means raw facts that are disparate, unrelated and uninterpreted.
Examples: “kushagra”, 1, “sal”, 12 kg, “meetha” – this is data, but it does not give complete information.
What is information?
When data is organized, presented in a correct and meaningful way, it becomes information.
Example: “Kushagra is 11 years old and weighs 12 kg, he is a cute child.”
Now this data has become a meaningful information, which we can easily understand.
What is knowledge?
When information is understood, analyzed and used in the right place, it becomes knowledge.
Example:
“There are a total of 2150 students in the school.” – This is information.
If the school administration calculates that if each student donates ₹5, then a total of ₹10,750 will be collected, then it will be called knowledge.
Conclusion
Data → When facts are without context.
Information → When data is presented in the right order and context.
Knowledge → When information is used in the right way.
How is knowledge created?
When we use information in the right way, it becomes knowledge.
Example:
Information: “There are 2150 students in the school.”
Knowledge: “If each student will give ₹5, then a total of ₹10,600 will be collected in ‘Literacy Fund’.”
Here we have analyzed the information and used it in decision making, so it is called knowledge.
Sometimes information can also become data and data can also become information.
Example:
“Train T3941 leaves platform 6 at 6:15 PM.”
For railways it is information, but for someone else it can be just data.
Why is information needed?
1. Information is needed in a fast changing world
The modern world is changing at a very fast pace, and everything is getting affected by it. Competition is increasing in today’s world, and it is very important to have the right information to move ahead.
Right information = right decision = success
2. Handling large amounts of data
With the development of education and technology, a huge amount of data has become available.
Any big business or organization has to collect data from many sources.
But just having data is not enough, it has to be organized in such a way that it can be used quickly when needed.
3. Computer and information management
With the help of computers, large amounts of data can be easily stored, processed and used.
When data is converted into information correctly, it helps in making decisions in less time.
Example:
It can be difficult to store information (data) of all the students in a school.
But by storing it correctly on the computer, information of any student can be retrieved instantly.
4. Help in making the right decision
The main purpose of information is to convert data into meaningful information.
Better decisions can be made when the right information is available.
Example:
If a business knows the preferences of its customers, it can sell the right products and make profits.
Conclusion
Data → Meaningless facts
Information → Organized and meaningful data
Knowledge → When information is used properly to make decisions
Information management has become very important in today’s time as it helps in making decisions, getting ahead of the competition and using the resources properly.
Importance and Uses of Information
Information is an important part of our life. It helps us to make right decisions, improve society and increase productivity. Let us know how information is useful in our life.
1. Increase in knowledge
The more information you have, the more knowledge you will have.
It helps in understanding the events happening around you and the rules of society.
Ignorance can be dangerous, so it is important to have the right information.
Example:
If someone is not aware of the new laws of the government, he will not be able to benefit from them.
Farmers can plant crops at the right time if they have information about the weather.
2. Helpful in decision making
Without information, it is difficult to make the right decision.
Information is necessary to make the right decision at the personal, business and government level.
It is also important for students, as it tells them what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
Example:
A manager needs market information to make the right decision.
Students should know the correct date and syllabus of the exam, so that they can make the right plan.
3. Impact on society
Information plays an important role in the development of society.
Humans have gone through the agricultural age, the industrial age and now the information age.
Today information has become the most important resource.
IT (Information Technology) can be used to improve society.
Example:
Impact of IT in villages
With the correct weather forecast, farmers can plan their crops.
With the knowledge of new technologies, farmers can get more yield.
The literacy rate can be improved with online education.
4. Increase in productivity
Having the right information saves time, money and labor.
Using the information correctly improves the speed and quality of work.
Example:
If a manager is working on a project and gets the right information on time, he can increase productivity by taking the right decision.
If farmers get information about fertilizer, water and crop at the right time, their yield will be higher.
Conclusion
Information increases knowledge and it helps us to make right decisions.
It helps to develop the society and bring progress to the villages.
The right use of information helps in increasing productivity.
In today’s information age, having the right information is the key to success.
