What is Information: Definition and 999 Discussions
Information can be thought of as the resolution of uncertainty; it answers the question of "What an entity is" and thus defines both its essence and the nature of its characteristics. The concept of information has different meanings in different contexts. Thus the concept becomes synonymous to notions of constraint, communication, control, data, form, education, knowledge, meaning, understanding, mental stimuli, pattern, perception, proposition, representation, and entropy.
Information is associated with data. The difference is that information resolves uncertainty. Data can represent redundant symbols, but approaches information through optimal data compression.
Information can be transmitted in time, via data storage, and space, via communication and telecommunication. Information is expressed either as the content of a message or through direct or indirect observation. That which is perceived can be construed as a message in its own right, and in that sense, information is always conveyed as the content of a message.
Information can be encoded into various forms for transmission and interpretation (for example, information may be encoded into a sequence of signs, or transmitted via a signal). It can also be encrypted for safe storage and communication.
The uncertainty of an event is measured by its probability of occurrence. Uncertainty is inversely proportional to the probability of occurrence. Information theory takes advantage of this fact by concluding that more uncertain events require more information to resolve their uncertainty. The bit is a typical unit of information. It is 'that which reduces uncertainty by half'. Other units such as the nat may be used. For example, the information encoded in one "fair" coin flip is log2(2/1) = 1 bit, and in two fair coin flips is log2(4/1) = 2 bits. A 2011 Science article estimated that 97% of technologically stored information was already in digital bits in 2007, and that the year 2002 was the beginning of the digital age for information storage (with digital storage capacity bypassing analog for the first time).
I have started my Master's programme in physics and I'm getting information about a physics phd. One question seems to keep coming up, will you go for 2 phd's?
I'm interested in theoretical particle physics, but is it worth getting another phd in another field in physics? Can you do 2 phd...
Maybe it is a good idea to have mathematical tutorials like in the subforum about Physics. I have no homework anymore :smile: but tend to think that doing mathematics is a skill that always pays back at the end.
First thing I want to know what https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_information...
And:
So they have used phase information to control a biological process, but how about the organisms themselves: do they use light in the same way?
They also mention 'the vision response', is that our eyes? Do our eyes/brain use phase information to create our vision?
I have to choose between two classes because of a schedule conflict:
CS 575, combinatorics and graph theory
This course is taught by the chief undergraduate advisor and earlier I mentioned to him that I'd be taking the course. So politically it may be a good idea. The course says it...
Hi All,
I have an undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering and master degree in computer engineering. Currently I am doing my second masters in nano technology. After this master degree, I like to do research in area related to QM e.g. qunatum cellular automata, Quantum...
I was pretty shocked listening to this, and was REALLY hoping that someone in the group would have some logical argument.
http://www.bushcommission.org/Audio/Craig_Murray%20Testimony.mp3
http://www.craigmurray.co.uk
Thanks
Warrick
Hi, I have been thinking recently about integrating something with 3 parts such as:
I=\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)\ast g(x)\ast h(x)\ast dx
If I is an unknown that we are trying to find and we know what J and K are where:
J=\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)\ast g(x)\ast dx
and...
Hi All,
Gravity is (in String Theory at least) mediated by gravitons. Why is it these are the only "particles" that can convey information instantaneously even where light is retarded to the point of being super-red-shifted?
Thanks,
Wallis
Entropy, information and Omphalos cosmology
Roger Penrose, in The Road to Reality, discusses the Second Law of Thermodynamics and the Universe’s entropy. He floats (section 27.13) an order-of-order-of magnitude argument that the entropy of our Universe has increased from mighty big (10^10^88)...
Hello.
I've got childish question.
I know that quantum computers are more effective than classical ones
in solving some problems. Naturally, a thought have come to me: are
there computers which are more effective than quantum ones, maybe
some "Superstring" computers? And maybe there are...
I'm seeing a lot of articles about refining the entanglement process, and how it should be applicable to information transfer, but I haven't seen any experiments where they have actually manipulated the states on one side to be observed on the other. I'm having trouble understanding exactly how...
HI everyone,
I'm a student from India . I would like to know the procedure
to enter Msc physics course in Cambride(if at all its there).
Is a three year degree valid in UK
I don't remember if I have ever posted these here before, but if I did it was a very long time ago. Some of these are worth keeping for you astrophoto buffs out there and I have found the exposure tables to be spot-on. For f/ratios not listed, it is easy to see where to start for bracketing...
would someone like to consider information as a potential energy source, perhaps measureable. once information is reproduced its potential energy has risen. almost like it has a goal to achieve. given matter and information are inseperable, any energy source would contain information and...
Yesterday I was whining about how the Veterans Administration initially misrepresnted the scope of the stolen data of 26.5M veterans. I was wondering just now whether that bureau is so incompetent as to not understand their own databases, or whether they did know exactly what went missing, and...
http://news.com.com/2100-1029_3-6079261.html
Yet again, sensitive personal information vanishes due to massive incompetence.
Of course, when 26.5 million veterans' personal information was stolen, they http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/22/vets.data.reut/ . I think one must be very conservative here.
After having my "What Is Energy Made Of?" thread running in the Quantum Physics section I learned.. after the some great replies.. that energy is more of an abstract concept that explains interactions, transfers and potentials or storage... many times the analogy of money was used.
With this...
I have the feeling that yes, it is.
But what are the examples?
What are the foundations?
What are the derivations from physical laws to information theory?
What are the conditions?
What are the consequences?
Any book, reference?
Any suggestion?
Any comment, contribution, any thought...
Have some of you read this book by Roy Friedel?
What are your comment?
I am also interrested in other sources about "information" and "Fisher information" as it could be used in physics.
Thanks
Michel
i was replaying this FPS game and the game's main protoganist is a physicist who did his phd thesis on "Observation of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Entanglement on Supraquantum Structures by Induction Through Nonlinear Transuranic Crystal of Extremely Long Wavelength (ELW) Pulse from Mode-Locked...
is there jobs on quantum information??
does anyone know the career potential for someone who takes phd on quantum information?
i mean a kind of job other than research assisstant in university?
Hello, does someone knows where I can find information about upper and lower derivatives??
For example, why they always exists and why if both have the same value L then the derivative exists and it is L ??
Thank you.
There's no discussion of this recent paper yet as far as I can see:
Pasting from Marcus' Intuitive content thread:
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0603008
Reconstructing Quantum Geometry from Quantum Information: Area Renormalisation, Coarse-Graining and Entanglement on Spin Networks
Etera R...
This is the start of a presentation of some work I have done over the past year and hope to publish. This is how it is that quantum information is preserved in quantum gravity and cosmology. This will involve a number of posts along this thread. The next three posts involve quantum...
Okay so "The fast freight completed the trip in 10 hours while the slow freight needed 12 hours for the same trip. How long (distance) was the trip if the fast freight train was 10 kph faster than the slow freight?"
These are uniform motion problems at egual distance (which aren't difficult...
When I listen to radio, then I know that the radio gets the information from electromagnetic radio waves. But in which parameter is the information of the song/news/output/whatever included?
It can't be amplitude, since amplitude decreases with distance of obstruction, and the data most...
In the last couple of days I have been searching for information concerning the Hubbert Peak Theory.
Most of the information about peak oil seems to be alarmist and/or conspitacy theorist make-preparations-now-or-you're-gonna-die stuff.
I have read that most oil companies and the US...
I'm trying to write a stochastic simulation of a chain fission reaction in an enriched uranium sample (I plan to vary the concentration of U235 - from what I've read 4%U235 vs 96%U238 is what is used in commercial reactors).
from my basic understanding of the process, a neutron is fired into...
Hey all, I'm a beginner of the Quantum Computation and Quantum Information. For a long time, I feel very confuse about the question bellow. Could you do me a favor and show me the proof? Many thanks!
Question:
Show that any qubit can be expressed as
psi=exp(iγ)[cos(θ/2)0+exp(iΦ)sin(θ/2)1]...
How can anyone construct a theory with less than 5 % of the information,
i know that you lot are very cleaver, but AE would be a dwarf to any one
that can get a 100% ansewer from 5% information available.
********************************************************************************
CALL FOR PAPERS
13th International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP2006)
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong...
This thread is slightly related to another question: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=109211
I was hoping someone here could give a better explanation since it's essentially a relativity problem.
In general however, what exactly does it mean to say that information propogates...
I'm trying to build myself a very robust and effective filing system so that I can process all the paperwork I generate and not lose it.
This would include:
- Course notes
- Textbook notes
- Generalized notes about subjects
- Various subjects such as E&M, QM, etc, and also "hybrid"...
In double-slit experiment one can observe either an interference pattern or which-path information, but never both.
Spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) is used in the recent experiments to create entangled pairs of photons. One of them is used to observe the interference pattern...
Hi, :approve:
I want to do porject for Turbo Fan, so I need some information about it. If you could help me, please don't shame and gimme me this information to help me.
Thanks,:smile:
I appreciate it:biggrin:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051123/hl_nm/science_brain_dc;_ylt=AlPSw4B__4xnfkOM13Mg0LMDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
How appropriate for GD! :rofl:
There, now that I've got your attention:
I started this username about 6 months ago, and i haven't logged on for quite some time. I posted a few things on my journal/blog, or whatever it was back then, and now it seems as though the format for them has changed, and they are no longer there...
With all the changes that constantly take place in the world, with technology, politics, environment, etc..., and the DETAILS of those changes presented by many, many sources of media, it's difficult to keep up with what is current.
I think if human beings were computers, under the current...
I am going be so pleased i f anyone can suggest a website where i can find information regarding the following topic:
Digital video camera lens.do anyone know a website where i can download a short video regarding fiber optics.
What are the examples of superluminal events which do not transmit information or energy, and hence not violating causality but travels faster than light?
My book here gives an example of a shadow of a bug flying across a projector. Any others?
This may or may not be the correct forum to ask this, but let's ask it anyway.
I am looking for historical information on density.
It is so that densities can not be added lineary:
A material containing 10% of material 1 and 90% of material 2 will not have a density of 10% * the density of...
I recently have begun taking university classes again, and I have been reminded of the impressive breadth and depth of knowledge wielded by professors. I'm interested in getting some insight into how they do it, both because it's an interesting question in its own right and because I would like...
alright i used to look up 5 or so random (or so it seemed to most people) facts, or concepts just about daily. many of which involved mathematics or sciences. Now more recently i haven't done so much, and feel i am becoming far less usefull then i had been previously, and besides who doesent...
Hawking, new theory on information paradox right or wrong?
Does anyone have any views on Stephen Hawking amendment to his 30 year old theory of black holes and the *information paradox that was recently challenged?
Once past the event horizon information is lost forever and only the energy...
I have been trying to work out some information about the Laws of Energy and have come to a stand still. For example if you take a molecule of water, it contains a finite amount of energy, e.g. you can't produce energy out of nothing (according to the laws of energy), so if it takes so much...
The Susskind "Counter Information Paradox?
Recent programme here in the UK deals with the "Hawking Paradox",:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/hawking_prog_summary.shtml
The programme has two opposing views on Blackholes, Hawking take and Susskind's take on BH...