Infosense: Turning Information Into Knowledge - Softcover

Devlin, Keith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0716741644 ISBN 13: 9780716741640

Publisher: W. H. Freeman, 2001

Synopsis

Information has been called everything from the new gold standard to the fundamental building block of the universe. No matter where we live or what we do for a living, it is ever present in our lives, and many of us are barraged with it daily. Yet few of us know how to distinguish information from mere data, worthwhile communication, or real knowledge—in short, few of us know how to make sense of it.

In InfoSense, noted mathematician Keith Devlin shows how to make sense of the constant flow of information that swirls past us daily. What is crucial, Devlin points out, is to understand the differences between data, information, and knowledge. By exploring the nature of each, and describing what distinguishes them from one another, he shows how businesses and individuals alike can benefit from better information management. Using clear, non-technical language, simple diagrams, and many real-life examples, Devlin explains

· Why people can beat computers
· How culture influences work
· The hidden rules of conversation
· How to conduct a successful meeting

As information becomes the single most valuable asset in many industries, the key to success lies in our ability to manage that information. With InfoSense, Keith Devlin offers an easy and accessible way to learn not only how to manage it but also how to use it to live and work successfully in the Knowledge Age.

About this title

About the Author

Keith Devlin is Dean of the School of Science at Saint Mary's College of California and Senior Researcher at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and Information. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author of a number of books, including The Language of Mathematics; Life by the Numbers; Goodbye, Descartes; Logic and Information; and Mathematics: The Science of Patterns.

Review

"Devlin, an accomplished numberist . . . gives us a clear picture of his subject . . . the key, says Devlin, is not information, but knowledge, which he defines as information put into practice."
—Wired

"The best thing about doing business today is the wealth of information available. The worst thing about doing business today is the wealth of information available. If you want to make sense of it—if you want to learn how to turn information into useful knowledge—read this book."
—Guy Kawasaki, author of Rules for Revolutionaries and How to Drive Your Competition Crazy

"In InfoSense, Keith Devlin deftly applies some of the insights of the new discipline of Situation Theory to common problems in business communication. The importance of context and the frequent vagueness of conversation are just two of the areas he illuminates in this enticing study."
—John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy; A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper; and Once Upon a Number

"Devlin and his colleagues have mathematically validated a number of interesting strategies for boosting productivity and innovation within a group . . . Readers immersing themselves in InfoSense will find there is far more to information than meets the I."
—Technology Review

Edition details

• Publisher: W. H. Freeman
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0716741644
• ISBN 13: 9780716741640
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240