Information Science

Information science is a combination of several different sciences, among them library science, computer science, and the study of communications. Information science focuses on the organization and subsequent transmission of factual data. Information science has become increasingly sophisticated as technological advancements have occurred. It is now an invaluable aid to people from many different career paths.

History

Information science was developed in the years following World War II, when means of communicating and disseminating information had become complex enough that scientists began to look at possible ways in which these methods might be improved. One area of particular interest was telecommunications, in which the efficacy of a certain kind of telephone line could greatly shape the way people communicated with each other. Information theory was developed by a number of scientists but most significantly by Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver, who explored the ways in which the extraneous elements imposing themselves on the communication between the sender and the receiver of a message affected what message was received or whether the message was received at all. Additionally, the science of cybernetics was significant for the development of information science. Cybernetics focuses on the relationship between a person sending a message and the medium used to send that message, as well as the relationship between a human being and the machine that the human being controls. The progression of computer science affected information science as well. The expansion of the Internet changed the science irrevocably from its relatively modest origins in the 1950s, making information that was once quite difficult to retrieve accessible in seconds. As the discipline grew from the mere studying of programming basics to the possibilities for the complete transformation of daily life by technology, certain scientists became curious about how the pursuit of information could be a part of this development. Currently, information science is offered as a field of study at several major universities and is still very much in development.

Scope

In attempting to answer the question, "What does an information scientist do?" one can only give a complex answer. The answer depends on the shaping of an individual’s training. An information scientist may do many of the same things as a library scientist, but that does not mean that information science and library science are the same thing. Library science is the study of the methods behind the organization of documents, including papers, books, periodicals, and online documents. A person studying library science not only learns how information is classified and organized, but also why these methods of classification are the most intelligent ways of sharing information with the public—in addition to studying new ways of transmitting this information. An information scientist certainly needs to be informed on library science, perhaps having studied it in depth, but an information scientist also needs to have covered other disciplines as well in his or her training since the purpose of information science is to construct better ways of disseminating data in a broad sense—through not only libraries but also other media, including online platforms.

Typically, a person who wants to specialize in information science needs to have training in the areas of computer science that pertain to research. This could mean studying how search engines work to learn about certain forms of artificial intelligence that have to do with accessing vast amounts of information quickly and accurately. Branches of this study include programming, computation, and the way humans interact with computers. The training could also involve learning about how information is organized and structured on the Internet, both within online library catalogs and on the World Wide Web. Another important part of the information scientist’s training might simply be problem-solving techniques: How does one get from Point A (question) to Point B (answer) if there are an infinite number of obstacles to gaining knowledge or information?

Uses

An information scientist might work for the government, helping to maintain public records in a database. Individuals with degrees in information science might also work in public libraries, either as head librarians or in more scholarly positions such as maintaining and cataloging manuscripts. Within the technological fields, an information science background offers numerous opportunities as well. For instance, an information scientist might consult a corporation on the most effective way of organizing and distributing data within its subdivisions. In professions in which human-computer interaction is becoming more important, ranging from manufacturing to biological research to medicine, a person with information science training could help to create a more efficient—and safer—workplace. In the publishing field, information scientists can help to create digital texts and then catalog and organize those texts. A person with a background in information science could be a tremendous asset in the law profession, where knowing how to assimilate and coordinate documents from a variety of sources can mean the difference between winning a case and losing it.

Bibliography

Cornell Information Science Department. Cornell University, infosci.cornell.edu/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

Rowley, Matt. "Information Technology: Why It's Still a Good Career Choice." Columbia Southern University, 5 Apr. 2024, www.columbiasouthern.edu/blog/blog-articles/2024/april/is-information-technology-a-good-career/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

"Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication." Communication Theory. Communication Theory. Web. 24 Aug. 2015. communicationtheory.org/shannon-and-weaver-model-of-communication/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.