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== Information as a pattern ==

Information is any represented [[pattern]]. This view assumes neither accuracy nor directly communicating parties, but instead assumes a separation between an object and its representation.  Consider the following example: [[economic statistics]] represent an [[Economics|economy]], however inaccurately. What are commonly referred to as data in [[computing]], [[statistics]], and other fields, are forms of information in this sense. The [[electromagnetism|electro-magnetic]] patterns in a [[computer network]] and connected [[peripheral device|device]]s are related to something other than the pattern itself, such as [[Character (computing)|text characters]] to be displayed and [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] input. [[Signal (information theory)|Signal]]s, [[Sign (linguistics)|sign]]s, and [[symbol]]s are also in this category.  On the other hand, according to [[semiotics]], data is symbols with certain syntax and information is data with a certain semantic.  [[Painting]] and [[drawing]] contain information to the extent that they represent something such as an assortment of objects on a table, a [[profile]], or a [[landscape]]. In other words, when a pattern of something is transposed to a pattern of something else, the latter is information. This would be the case whether or not there was anyone to perceive it.

But if information can be defined merely as a pattern, does that mean that neither [[utility]] nor meaning are necessary components of information? Arguably a distinction must be made between raw unprocessed data and information which possesses utility, [[value (economics)|value]] or some quantum of meaning. On this view, information may indeed be characterized as a pattern; but this is a [[necessary]] condition, not a [[sufficient]] one. 

An individual entry in a telephone book, which follows a specific pattern formed by name, address and telephone number, does not become "informative" in some sense unless and until it possesses some degree of utility, value or meaning. For example, someone might look up a girlfriend's number, might order a take away etc. The vast majority of numbers will never be construed as "information" in any meaningful sense. The gap between data and information is only closed by a behavioral bridge whereby some value, utility or meaning is added to transform mere data or pattern into information.

When one constructs a representation of an object, one can selectively extract from the object ([[sampling (case studies)|sampling]]) or use a [[system]] of signs to replace ([[encode|encoding]]), or both. The sampling and encoding result in representation. An example of the former is a "sample" of a product; an example of the latter is "verbal description" of a product. Both contain information of the product, however inaccurate. When one interprets representation, one can predict a broader pattern from a limited number of observations (inference) or understand the relation between patterns of two different things ([[decode|decoding]]). One example of the former is to sip a [[soup]] to know if it is spoiled; an example of the latter is examining footprints to determine the animal and its condition. In both cases, information sources are not constructed or presented by some "sender" of information. 
Regardless, information is dependent upon, but usually unrelated to and separate from, the medium or media used to express it. In other words, the position of a theoretical series of bits, or even the output once interpreted by a [[computer]] or similar device, is unimportant, except when someone or something is present to interpret the information. Therefore, a quantity of information is totally distinct from its medium.

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