Understanding Information: From the Big Bang to Big Data

The motivation of this edited book is to generate an understanding about information, related concepts and the roles they play in the modern, technology permeated world. In order to achieve our goal, we observe how information is understood in domains, such as cosmology, physics, biology, neuroscience, computer science, artificial intelligence, the Internet, big data, information society, or philosophy. Together, these observations form an integrated view so that readers can better understand this exciting building-block of modern-day society.

On the surface, information is a relatively straightforward and intuitive concept. Underneath, however, information is a relatively versatile and mysterious entity. For instance, the way a physicist looks at information is not necessarily the same way as that of a biologist, a neuroscientist, a computer scientist, or a philosopher. Actually, when it comes to information, it is common that each field has its domain specific views, motivations, interpretations, definitions, methods, technologies, and challenges.

With contributions by authors from a wide range of backgrounds, Understanding Information: From the Big Bang to Big Data will appeal to readers interested in the impact of ‘information’ on modern-day life from a variety of perspectives.

Table of Contents

Part I Introduction
Chapter 1 From The Tannhäuser Gate To Z8_Gnd_5296: A Day Trip On The Life-Cycle Of Information

Part II The World of Large and Small Systems
Chapter 2 Expanding Beyond The Solar System: Current Observation And Theory
Chapter 3 Information In Quantum Theory

Part III The World of Living Things
Chapter 4 The Potential Of Plants And Seeds In Dna-Based Information Storage
Chapter 5 Memory Processing In The Nervous System

Part IV The World of Intelligent Machines and Finiteness
Chapter 6 From Computing Machines To Learning Intelligent Machines: Chronological Development Of Alan Turing’S Thoughton Machines
Chapter 7 Finite Information Agency

Part V The World of Networks, Clouds, and Big Data Processing
Chapter 8 Distributed And Connected Information In The Internet
Chapter 9 Custom Hardware Versus Cloud Computing In Big Data

Part VI The World of Society and Philosophy
Chapter 10 Information Overload In A Data-Intensive World
Chapter 11 Causal/Informational Theories Of Mental Content