The “Information Age” began in 1844, when the invention of the telegraph separated the speed of information transfer from the speed of human travel (Brown & Duguid 2000).
Some researchers distinguish information from data, knowledge, and wisdom.
Data is proto-information, symbols that have no meaning in and of themselves?such as 11ºF or 12 years of age.
Information is, then, data that has been put into a meaningful context?such as “the average temperature in February in Caribou, Maine is 12ºF,” or “the average age at which American children first try to tobacco products is 12.”
Knowledge is information that has application, information that has been put together with beliefs, commitments, and assumptions?such as “this type of corn should be planted in Caribou, Maine because it’s good for cool temperate zone climates.”
Wisdom is knowledge that has been evaluated, knowledge which has served as the basis for action and adaptation after application?such as “this type of corn did not prove to be successful in Caribou after all because?”
People who distinguish information from data, knowledge, and wisdom often worry that “the primacy given to information in our times tends to remove [knowledge] and wisdom from the map of thought” (Quinn 1994).
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/lsc311/textbook/information.pdf
