Information, traditionally, has been seen as the transmission of data or facts. But now, we need to realize that information is not just what is delivered, but also includes context, context, and many other elements that affect the transmission and reception of information. In this way, information is not only superficial, but also contains multi-dimensional meanings and influences behind it. Information does not simply exist objectively, but is constructed and evolved in a social and cultural context. As a result, the same information may be interpreted and understood in very different social groups or cultural contexts. This constructive nature makes the dissemination and reception of information have a profound impact on the social context. With the rise of the Internet and social media, information is becoming more dynamic and fluid, able to spread and evolve rapidly, but also vulnerable to multiple interferences and interpretations. The access, dissemination and control of information have shaped power structures to a certain extent. The way information is controlled and disseminated may affect the cognitive and action ability of individuals and groups, so the circulation of information has important political and social significance. With the development of the information society, the acquisition, use and protection of information are becoming more and more complex, and the balance between personal privacy and information sharing has become a key ethical and legal issue.
- Information is the bridge between matter and consciousness
Information can be understood as a description of a state or event of a thing, which is expressed in the form of symbols, signals, or data. Information plays a key role in both physical and cognitive systems. In physics and information theory, information is often thought of as the expression of the state of a material system, for example, the arrangement of molecules can encode information about chemical substances, and the state of electrons can transmit data in a computer. Consciousness, as a highly complex psychological phenomenon, involves cognitive, emotional, and subjective experiences. Many philosophers and scientists have argued that information can go some way to explaining how neural activity leads to cognition and consciousness. Cognitive science is concerned with the study of how information is perceived, processed, and understood, and these processes are closely related to the generation and maintenance of consciousness, and information processing theory attempts to explain how consciousness emerges from material foundations, such as neuronal activity.
- Information is the bridge between the objective and the subjective
Information can be seen as a bridge between the objective and the subjective. In this sense, information is not just simple data or facts, but data that is conveyed and interpreted. Information can be based on actual observations and measurements at the objective level, and at the subjective level, it can be perceived, understood, and interpreted by individuals. Objective information can often be verified and measured, and it exists in reality independent of individual perspectives. Subjective information, on the other hand, is more about personal perceptions, emotions and experiences, which affect how information is understood and communicated. Thus, information is not only transmitted from one place to another, but also encompasses the process of interpreting and understanding information, which is influenced by factors such as individual background, values, and culture.
- Substances alone do not necessarily have information
In information theory, information is often defined as the content of something or event that is capable of changing the recipient's state of knowledge. This change is often achieved through the transmission of symbols, data, or patterns, and involves the concept of information theory. In information theory, information is different from matter in that it refers to the reduction or elimination of uncertainty. Matter can be a carrier of information, but not all matter contains information. In information theory, information is defined as a measure that eliminates or reduces uncertainty. If there are multiple possibilities for an event or situation, and we somehow obtain certainty or reduce uncertainty about its true condition, then that reduction is information. Matter is able to carry information through its state, arrangement, or organization. For example, in computer science, data is stored in matter (such as hard disk or memory), but only properly encoded and decoded data is considered real information. Information can exist in matter, but it is not limited to matter. For example, concepts in the human mind, expressions in works of art, and abstract mathematical concepts can all be considered information, even though they are not part of matter. Thus, while matter can be a manifestation or storage of information, information itself is a more abstract and universal concept that can transcend the limitations of matter.
- Consciousness alone does not necessarily mean information
In information theory, information is a measure that reduces or eliminates uncertainty. Consciousness, on the other hand, involves mental processes such as subjective experience, perception, and reflexes. While consciousness may involve information processing, it is not simply the transmission or storage of information. Consciousness is a complex phenomenon that involves the interaction of multiple levels and regions in the brain, and information processing is part of brain function to some extent, but the generation and experience of consciousness does not depend solely on the transmission and processing of information. Information can be objectively quantified and measured, while consciousness is a subjective experience. Even if a system is capable of processing large amounts of information, this does not necessarily mean that it has a subjective conscious experience. The philosophical understanding of consciousness involves a variety of theories such as mind-body dualism, materialism, and functionalism, all of which attempt to explain how consciousness is connected to information processing, or whether it exists. Therefore, the belief that consciousness alone does not necessarily have information emphasizes the existence of consciousness as a complex phenomenon independent of information processing. This view leads us to delve into the nature of consciousness, its relationship to information processing, and how consciousness arises and expresses on the basis of brain activity.
- In situational awareness, "state" and "potential" can only produce information in "feeling" and "knowing".
Situational awareness refers to the ability to perceive and understand states and trends in the surrounding environment or situation. This involves the perception and analysis of the situation, its dynamics, and possible future trends. Here, "state" refers to the current state or situation, which can be the existing state of environmental, social, or other systems. "Potential" refers to the underlying trend or direction of development, which is a trend change that may develop from the current state. According to information theory, information is a measure that reduces or eliminates uncertainty. In situational awareness, information is generated from the perception and analysis of environmental conditions and development trends. It is only through perception (sense) and understanding (knowing) that useful information can be extracted from complex environments. Perception is the premise of information, the process of receiving and processing external signals and data. Knowledge is the process of understanding and interpreting this data. Therefore, the generation of information does rely on the interaction of two processes, perception and knowledge. To sum up, "state" and "potential" are indeed important concepts in situational awareness, but they do not constitute information when they exist alone. It is only in the process of perception and knowledge that useful information can be generated from it, helping people to understand and respond to complex environments and situations.
In situational awareness, "state" and "potential" need to generate meaningful information through "feeling" and "knowing", such as,
In military games, situational awareness refers to how a military commander or decision-maker assesses the current situation and future trends by gathering, analyzing, and understanding information. Let's use an example to explain how "state" and "potential" generate information through "feeling" and "knowing" in situational awareness:
Imagine a military commander facing an enemy deployment. They use a variety of intelligence sources, including reconnaissance aircraft, spy networks, satellite imagery, and more, to gather information. This information covers the location, equipment, numbers, movements, and much more of the enemy's troops.
"State" refers to the current situation or state. In this example, the information gathered by the military commander constitutes the current state of the enemy's forces, such as where the enemy is deployed, how it acts, etc., are all part of the "state". By analyzing information about the current situation, commanders are able to speculate about the enemy's possible next move, or their possible strategic intentions, based on the potential and likelihood of the current situation. "Sensitivity" refers to how commanders and intelligence analysts perceive and identify this information, including how they gather intelligence, interpret data, and understand the intent and purpose of an adversary's actions, the quality and accuracy of which directly affect subsequent decisions and actions. "Knowledge" refers to the understanding and cognition that is formed on the basis of information, and by combining perceived information with existing background knowledge and experience, decision-makers are able to form a deeper understanding of the situation.
In this process, "state" and "potential" can only truly become useful information through the stages of "feeling" and "knowing". Commanders and military intelligence analysts must translate scattered data and observations into critical insights about enemy intentions and strategies through their process of perception and understanding. These insights and analyses will have a direct impact on the planning and execution of military operations. Therefore, situational awareness in military games is not just the collection of data and facts, but an in-depth information processing process that involves perception, understanding, and inference. In this process, the significance and value of "state" and "potential" lie in how they are transformed into useful information for decision-making through perception and knowledge.
To sum up, the new thinking of information does not only focus on the content of information itself, but also considers the role, impact and complexity of information in society and individual life more broadly. This new thinking will help us better understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities in the intelligent society.