How we receive information. A person receives the largest amount of information with the help of... Human sense organs Where do we get information

Class: 3

Target: formation of an idea of ​​the mechanism for obtaining information from the surrounding world by a person.

• remember the human sensory system;
• introduce a classification of types of information;
• show the possible advantages and disadvantages of receiving information by different senses;
• improve your mouse skills.

Equipment: lemon, onion, garlic, bread, tangerine; tea, milk, coffee, juice, water; cube, ball, car, rake, mushroom, soft toy; recording of a fragment of the ballet “The Nutcracker” by P. I. Tchaikovsky; electronic textbook “World of Informatics” 1 year of study Mogilev; audio recording of the fairy tale “Fear has big eyes”; textbook “World of Informatics” 1st year of study Mogilev

During the classes

1. Organizational moment. (Slide 1. Presentation)

2. Repetition of previously studied material

Every day we learn something new, scientifically speaking, we receive information. A person cannot live without it. Why? Prove it. Remember the last lesson in which we learned about the concept of “information”. (Guiding question: when crossing the street, the traffic light turned red, did you not notice it, what could happen?)

What is “information”? (Information about the surrounding world)

Can this question be answered this way? (Slide 2)

• what is broadcast on television in news broadcasts;
• weather forecast;
• what is printed in the newspaper.

Which of these answers is the most complete? Prove

3. Conversation about obtaining information by a person

Today in the lesson we must find out how a person receives information, what types of information are distinguished, we will do practical work,

3.1. Introductory conversation

How does a person learn about various events, news, and receive interesting information? (Slide 3)

Everything you mentioned are sources of information.

But a person learns news and events from these sources with the help of something. Maybe you can guess how? Let's give examples: (slide 4)

• the alarm rang in the morning, our ears helped us hear it
• There is an interesting cartoon on TV, we see it with... our eyes
• The fire of the fire burns strongly, we felt it with the help of... the palms of our hands
• the cocktail turned out to be very sweet, we found out with the help of our tongue
• The smell of a flower came into the room from the street, and it was our nose that helped us smell it.

It turns out that we receive all information about the world around us through the five senses of perception: sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste. A person has special organs with the help of which different feelings arise

3.2. Practical work

1. Students are invited by smell identify the item: lemon, onion, garlic, bread, tangerine.

This information is called auditory information. Why do you think?

2. Students are encouraged taste identify the item: tea, milk, coffee, juice, water.

What sense organ did you use to identify the object? (Slide 5)

Why

3. Students are encouraged to the touch identify the object (magic bag): cube, ball, car, rake, fungus, soft toy

What sense organ did you use to identify the object? (Slide 5)

This information is received from the organ of touch, which is why it is called tactile or tactile.

Is it always worth touching an object?

4. Students are asked to identify the author based on a piece of music. (Nutcracker P I Tchaikovsky)

With the help of what sense organ did you identify the author of the work? (Slide 5)

What is this information called?

5. Students are asked to choose from the proposed figures. (Game “Who is attentive”) (Slide 5 - hyperlink to the word information - slides 9-13)

The shapes on the slide are: Triangles, Quadrangles, Circles, Ovals, Stars.

Close eyes. At this time, either the figure, or the color, or the arrangement of the figures, or the size changes

What sense organ did you use to determine what was changing? (Slide 13 - hyperlink to rectangle)

What is this information called?

3.3. Generalization about sense organs and types of information

What type of information is there? (Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile)

What is the name of the type of information associated with? (With a sense organ that transmits information)

3.4. Listening to ML “How we get information”

Let us repeat the safety rules when working on a PC.

3.5. A conversation about the acquisition of information by humans and animals. (Slide 5 - hyperlink sense organs - slide 14)

A person receives the most information through vision: with our eyes we perceive letters, numbers, pictures; we distinguish color, shape, size, arrangement of objects. It is known that over 80% of the information a person receives from the outside world comes from vision, about 10% from tactile sensations, and only 7% is information perceived in text form. (Slide 14 - hyperlink to types of information - slide 6)

Information about the world around us is received not only by people, but also by all living organisms. A shepherd dog can sense the approach of a wolf and bark to warn its owner about it. In India, along the banks of rivers there are thickets of the amazing plant “Bashful Mimosa”. When a tropical downpour begins and the first drops of rain fall on the plant, the mimosa hurries to fold its leaves. Information is embedded in every cell of a living organism, and this allows it to grow, develop, and cope with diseases.

Animals also receive information using their sense organs, but the importance of one or another sense organ varies for different animals.

Look at the picture and answer the question: What, in your opinion, is the most important and most developed feeling in an eagle; wolf; bat; dolphin; mole? Slide 6)

Look at the picture and answer the question: What type of information does the average monkey not receive? (Slide 7)

4. Performing exercises to consolidate the material

4.1. Conversation on the fairy tale “Fear has big eyes.” (Slide 8)

Information can be useful, understandable, reliable, and complete. These are properties of information. To prove these words, we will listen to the fairy tale “Fear has big eyes.”

Textbook, page 46.

Do we always correctly perceive the information that our senses transmit to us?

What properties of information can you talk about after reading a fairy tale?

4.2. Game “damaged phone”

Conclusion: during transmission, information can be distorted and become incorrect.

Write 5 riddles about the senses

6. Summary. (Slide 16)

Continue the sentences:

I found out that…

I realized that...

It was interesting to me …

In life, we sometimes come into contact with people whom we see for the first time. If we are interested in the interlocutor, we want to know more about him, we want to structure the conversation in such a way as to also interest him. For business, information is money. And the more information you have, the less uncertainty, the easier it is to reach your goal.
How to get information from and about your opponent?

I offer some observations, methods that people most often use in business to promote their opponents for information.
These methods are not always honest; sometimes it is a conscious manipulation, sometimes an unconscious one. I am a proponent of a win-win situation.
But, you see, it is better to know the ways to be armed and not give away any secret information when someone uses them.
Or understand what kind of weapon you own and use it for its intended purpose and in the right situations.

This article is for those who want to know how and in what ways people influence each other in order to obtain the desired information.

Ways to promote information

1. Pass off a variant of a possible action, an opponent’s decision as valid

using affirmative phrases “ I know», « You surely... (you do this, such and such a person, feel this way...)"
And carefully record your opponent’s reaction.

The more incorrect the option, especially the assumption about the interlocutor’s feelings (talking about feelings unconsciously turns off part or all of logic), the more frank his reaction.

Sometimes several options for solutions are given on behalf of the interlocutor, although he did not voice them. Information is obtained by comparing reactions to both situations.
List the problems that most likely exist.“Surely...” And ask your opponent what is interesting from the list and what is not important? Ask an alternative question: either this or that is interesting?
Even if a person doesn’t guess correctly, the opponent is more likely to reveal himself when he is credited with something that is not what he is.
Say what are the reasons for refusal. But at the same time make a challenge: “If I say that all this does not apply to us and prove it, will you sign?”

2. Start a topic with your interlocutor that is indirectly related to the topic of interest.

Moving from a safe, related topic to a relevant one is easier to do, and information can often be obtained by listening to the opponent's beliefs.

For example, someone wants to know about a person's problem, starts a conversation about what causes it.
Do you want to know human diseases? They start talking about food, smoking, stress...
Want to know about a competitor's prices? They start talking about the high cost of supplies, the labor market...
Start a conversation about competitors. About their clients, about their prices... About the differences and advantages of the opponent with them. About the market situation in this segment.
Sometimes described a similar situation that allegedly or actually happened to him with his opponent’s competitor.
Bring up the topic of personnel in conversation. It is always relevant for the manager, just like sales. Start talking about what's new in these matters. Often the opponent himself begins to talk about plans.
Talking about dreams, drawing the desired image. Often managers easily talk about plans that are in dreams, i.e. ideal, not real. But if you listen carefully and encourage conversation, the person himself moves on to real plans and possibilities.

3. Find common ground with your interlocutor.

“I know that...” “I also had a similar experience...” “I came across...” “I’m from the same area, so I know what problems there are...” “I talked to everyone like you, and they have...”
It is clear that experiences bring us closer together, give us more understanding and trust. And information is given to those who are safe and trusted.
Link to authority.
Sometimes it’s easier to do what someone else has already done before you. And if it was authority...

4. Put the interlocutor into an emotional state.

This can be done through an emotional topic or a “different level” topic of communication.
An emotional topic is a topic that “transfers”, “switches” a person to the sphere of “emotions”. And both pleasant and unpleasant. If you make your opponent scream and start asking the right questions, he can answer, because control over logic is sharply reduced.
Emotional topics are topics that may concern your interlocutor. Money, prestige, his status, driving on the roads and car brands, extreme sports, relationships (including with staff, competitors)…
Call for a discussion of a controversial topic in an opponent’s area, where there is no right-wing 50% to 50%.
It can be in the form of a request from your opponent for advice. “You are an experienced person, I wanted to know the opinion of a specialist on such a controversial issue...”

Now I'll tell you about using different levels of communication to obtain information in business.
There is one system that distinguishes 3 levels of communication: business, friendly and sexual.
Each level of communication implies its own specific behavior, its own vocabulary of words, its own topics, its own gestures, permitted postures, even its own breathing...
The business level involves talking about facts, the friendly level is about feelings, the sexual level is about sensations.
To put your opponent into a trance, or temporarily remove control over the main topic, it is enough to use one level as the basis of the conversation, and insert some element from another level.
For example, men can talk about serious things using sexual or friendly language.
Even phrases to a subordinate woman when concluding a serious contract “I want you” or when concluding a supply contract “I love large sizes” can unconsciously switch the opponent to another level, which already implies a different attitude. And it doesn’t matter whether the opponent agrees to move to another level, it is important that he switched and the thoughts that appeared led him off the main topic, and when they lose control, people can give out information.

5. Give original and on-topic compliments.

Recognize your opponent's advantages.“I know that you have a decision without me. But all my clients also had a solution. And they refused, because... ...But they were interested...Are you interested in development...?”
This method works according to the rule - give your interlocutor the opportunity to win by recognizing the merits, and he will be ready to give it to you.

6. Record a negative or incomprehensible reaction from your opponent

(a person’s silence, his “resistance”), even at the level of “Your feelings,” and describe this reaction out loud to your interlocutor.
For example, “I see that you are silent. You are not interested? What is important to you?” “I see that you don’t want to talk. What should I do differently?

When voicing one’s own feelings or guessing the feelings of another, an interesting fact occurs - “sharing of responsibility” for the occurrence of these feelings.
To check this, try saying out loud “I have a bad headache” or “it’s stuffy in the room”, and those around you will most likely begin to offer solutions to your problem or suddenly begin to get angry, because... the appearance of a feeling of guilt that they cannot help can cause such a reaction. 🙂

7. Arouse curiosity, interest through a promise or disclosure of one’s own secret.

For example, “I have several solutions, several proposals, but I don’t know which one will interest you? So that you don’t waste time, I want to know the answer to one question, after which I will tell you exactly what is interesting to you..."
Curiosity operates at the level of instincts; it is difficult to refuse to find an answer. And when a person reveals secrets, it’s as if he’s giving up his weapons and becomes safer. And when there is nothing to fear, people relax more and have less control and tension in relationships.
It is not necessary to give away secrets, the disclosure of which could bring trouble to you or someone else, there are simply some revelations or new information for the opponent.

8. Play the role of the client. Ask questions as if you were an opponent’s client who is about to purchase his product or service.

Everyone wants to sell goods and willingly talks about this topic.
It is better to build questions based on possible problems with this product or service.
“Is this being done on time?” “How can I check the quality of your product?” “What if there is...?”

9. Find out the criteria in the opponent’s understanding “ good client"His benefit

Every day you learn something you didn’t know before - you get new information.

The world around us is a world of information. People and other living beings receive primary information about the world around them - about temperature, color, smell, taste, physical properties of objects - through the organs of vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, through the vestibular apparatus and nervous system.

The Unified Collection of Digital Educational Resources (sc.edu.ru) contains the animation “Classification of information according to the way people perceive it.” We recommend that you familiarize yourself with this resource.

We receive the most information through vision: with our eyes we perceive letters, numbers, pictures, and distinguish the color, shape, size and location of objects.

But can we fully trust our senses? Take a look at fig. 1. What can you say about the size and shape of the figures shown in this picture?

Rice. 1

Chances are you've noticed differences where there really aren't any. Make sure of this by using a ruler.

The Unified Collection of Digital Educational Resources (sc.edu.ru) hosts the “Optical Illusions” virtual laboratory. We recommend working with this resource and performing the necessary measurements using virtual instruments.

To obtain more accurate information, in addition to the senses, people have long used various devices and instruments: ruler, protractor, thermometer, barometer, scales, compass, telescope, microscope, etc.

Types of information by presentation form

People deal with different types of information perceived by their senses. A person can process and present the information received in text, numerical, graphic and other forms (Table 1).

Table 1
Types of information

Man's need to express the information he has led to the emergence of speech, writing, visual and musical arts.

A person tries to remember important information for himself, and if he does not rely on his memory, then he writes it down, for example, in a notebook - to save it.

People think about the information they receive, draw certain conclusions, in other words, process the information. Finding the right word in a dictionary, translating text from a foreign language into Russian, filling out a weather calendar, coloring contour maps, inserting missing letters in a Russian language exercise - all these are examples of information processing.

Reading a newspaper, memorizing a rule or poem, solving a mathematical problem, taking a photograph are human actions with information. But, for example, preparing dinner involves actions with food. But in order to prepare a dish, you need to have information about how it is done. Only then will it turn out tasty and healthy. A person performs every action with something based on information about how it is done.

The most important

Information is information about the world around us.

A person receives information through the senses: vision, hearing, taste, touch and smell.

Types of information according to the form of presentation: numerical, text, graphic, sound, video information.

A person constantly performs actions related to receiving and transmitting, storing and processing information.

Questions and tasks

1. Tell us what you know about the information.
2. Name the feelings and sensory organs of a person with the help of which he receives the following types of information:
   1. visual information;
   2. audio information;
   3. taste information;
   4. olfactory information;
   5. tactile information.
3. Animals also receive information through their senses, but the importance of a particular sense organ varies from animal to animal. What sense do you think (vision, hearing, smell, touch) is the most developed in an eagle? wolf; bat; dolphin; mole?

It will be easier for you to answer this question after watching the animation “Perception of information by animals through the senses,” posted in the Unified Collection of Digital Educational Resources (sc.edu.ru).

1. Are the listed actions actions with information: watching a TV show; game of chess; oral solution of an example in mathematics; memorizing a poem; game on computer? Explain your point of view.
2. Is painting the walls an example of an action with information? Give examples of actions that are not related to actions with information.
3. What information does a person starting to renovate an apartment need?
4. Is it possible to lose information? Give examples.

REMEMBER! Each workplace is supplied with life-threatening voltage.

You should be extremely careful while working.

To avoid accidents, damage electric shock, equipment breakdowns, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
Enter the computer lab calmly, without rushing, without jostling, without touching furniture or equipment, and only with the permission of the teacher.
Do not turn computers on or off without your teacher's permission.
Do not touch the power wires and connectors of the connecting cables.
Do not touch the screen or the back of the monitor.
Do not place foreign objects in the workplace.
Do not get up from your seats when visitors enter the office.
Do not attempt to troubleshoot equipment malfunctions yourself; If there are problems or malfunctions in your computer, stop working immediately and notify your teacher.
Operate the keyboard with clean, dry hands; Press the keys lightly without making sudden impacts or holding the keys down.

REMEMBER! If you don't take precautions, working on a computer can be harmful to your health.

In order not to harm your health, you must follow a number of simple recommendations:
An incorrect sitting position at the computer can cause shoulder and lower back pain. Therefore, sit down freely, without tension, without slouching, bending or leaning on the back of the chair. Place your feet directly on the floor, one next to the other, but stretch them out and do not bend them.
If the chair has an adjustable height, then it should be adjusted so that the angle between the shoulder and forearm is slightly more than straight. The torso should be at a distance of 15-16 cm from the table. The line of sight should be directed to the center of the screen. If you have glasses to wear all the time, work with them on.
When working, your shoulders should be relaxed, your elbows should lightly touch your body. Your forearms should be at the same height as the keyboard.
When working hard for a long time, your eyes become overtired, so every 5 minutes, take your eyes off the screen and look at something in the distance.

Correct fit

The most important

1. When working at a computer, you must remember: life-threatening voltage is supplied to each workplace. Therefore, during work you must be extremely careful and comply with all safety requirements.

2. To prevent working at a computer from being harmful to health, it is necessary to take precautions and monitor the proper organization of your workplace.

Poster "Safety"

The concept of information. Presentation of information

The world around us is very diverse and consists of a huge number of interconnected objects. To find your place in life, from early childhood, together with your parents, and then with your teachers, you learn all this diversity step by step. At school you acquire knowledge that humanity has accumulated over many millennia. Each academic discipline helps you understand the world from the perspective of its area of ​​knowledge.

So, in geography lessons you study geographical objects and processes occurring on planet Earth, and in history lessons you get acquainted with the stages of development of human society. The objects of studying biology are representatives of living nature: plants, animals, humans. In physics lessons you study the physical properties of objects and physical processes, and in chemistry lessons you study the chemical properties of objects and chemical processes. Thus, you form physical, biological, historical and other pictures of the world.

To bring these ideas into a single whole, we must try to find something common in all this diversity. This common thing is information. A person receives information from the world around him and, based on this information, forms his own idea of ​​it, that is, creates an information picture of the world. It is very important that a person learns to correctly perceive the world, receiving and processing the necessary information for this.

This section will allow you to take the path of forming an idea of ​​​​the information picture of the world. What is needed for that? It is very difficult to give a definitive answer to this question today. However, it is quite obvious that first you need to learn how to work purposefully with information.

Any person perceives information through the senses and presents it in a form convenient for further work using any language. It is important to choose the right language and form of presenting information so that they are understandable to others. The form in which information is presented may vary depending on the area of ​​its use and the capabilities of the person working with it. In order to navigate the vast sea of ​​​​various information, you need to know what properties it has and what actions you can perform with it.

However, information does not exist on its own. Information brings a person knowledge about everything that surrounds him and what happens around him, that is, about objects, processes and phenomena of the real world. In this section, you will get acquainted with such concepts as an object, a system, an information process, and learn to highlight the most essential information about them so that the information picture of the world you compose fully reflects the diversity of the world around you. Topics on models and simulation are very important. What's happened information model and how to create it, how the information model of an object and a system differ, what modeling is and what stages need to be completed to get the expected result - this is only a small part of the questions to which you will receive answers by studying the material in this section.

In the surrounding world, various information processes take place everywhere, the management of which allows a person to competently organize not only production, but also relationships between people. In order to make thoughtful and not hasty decisions, you need to learn to analyze everything that happens around you and be able to draw conclusions. This is only possible if you learn to work with information, using, if necessary, modern technical means, including a computer.

From this section you will learn how a person perceives information about the world around him, what a person’s information activity is, what devices help him in this, what role the computer plays in this.

The acquisition, storage, and multiplication of knowledge is based on the ability to collect and purposefully process information about objects in the surrounding world.

Topic 1.
Concept of information

After studying this topic, you will learn:
- what does the term “information” mean?
- what types of information exist;
- how a person perceives information;
- what properties does the information have?

1.1. What is information

Getting to know the world around you, each of us forms our own idea of ​​it. Daily we learn something new - we receive information.

Term "information" translated from Latin means “explanation, presentation, set of information”. Information - this is a very capacious and deep concept, which is not easy to give a clear definition. You get information from different sources: when you read or listen, watch a TV show or look at a painting in a museum, touch an object or try some food, etc. Information is always intended for a specific recipient, in some fields of activity called a receiver.

Exists information for a narrow circle of people, specializing in a specific scientific field: chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, computer science, literature, etc. Such information is called scientific.

Information you receive when viewing a work of art(paintings, musical works, dancing, cinema), evokes a variety of feelings, emotions, and moods. Such information is called aesthetic.

For a person, information disseminated by the media also plays an important role: radio, television, newspapers and magazines. This is socio-political, popular science, and cultural information that allows a person to learn about events in the world, science and art.

Is there some more information intended for one person only- top secret or very personal. For example, when preparing a gift for your friend's birthday, you will try to keep this information secret.

Information brings a person knowledge about the world around him.

Nowadays humanity has accumulated great amount information! It is estimated that the total amount of human knowledge until recently doubled every 50 years. The volume of information now doubles every two years. Imagine a colossal library containing this information! A person’s ability to correctly perceive and process information largely determines his ability to understand the world around him.

1.2. Perception of information

The world around us is full of all kinds of sights, sounds, smells, and all this information is conveyed to a person’s consciousness by his senses: vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch. With their help, a person forms his first idea about any object, living creature, work of art, phenomenon, etc.

With your eyes people perceive visual (visual) information. This could be the text of a book, a painting in a museum, a geographical map, a road sign, or a ballerina’s dance.

Hearing organs deliver information in the form of sounds (auditory): speech, phone calls, birdsong, music, noise. This sense organ can work differently for different people: some hear better, others hear worse. Contemporaries of the great violinist Nicolo Paganini claimed that he heard people talking in whispers at a distance of 10 meters.

Olfactory organs allow a person to smell. Usually you don’t think about the fact that the smells around you are also very important information. When you want to characterize a smell, you try to give it a comparative assessment: heavy, light, spicy, pleasant. There is a very rare specialty - “perfumer”. This person mixes extracts of different flowers, fruits and gets a new combination, which is used in the manufacture of perfumes, eau de toilette and other perfumery products. Sometimes smells enhance the perception of the surrounding world. For example, the smell of bergamot oil enhances visual sensations, and the smell of geranium enhances hearing.

Organs of taste provide a person with information about the taste of food. Imagine what would happen if you did not have this feeling! You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an orange and pickles, for example. Historical research has shown that there are people with a heightened sense of taste. For example, records have been found that ancient Roman gastronomes determined by the taste of the fish where it was caught in the Tiber River.

Organs of touch allow you to obtain other information, such as the temperature of the object (hot or cold), the condition of the surface (smooth or rough, wet or dry). Such information is called tactile. If you find yourself in complete darkness, you will not be able to distinguish a black ball from a white one. But if one of them is made of rubber and the other of glass, then you can easily distinguish them. To do this, just feel them with your fingertips.

Every smell, color and sound affects a person. Some colors irritate, others calm. For example, red color is considered warming, active, cheerful; yellow color - warm, cheerful. Sounds have an impact on a person’s emotions and physical state. For example, sad music quickens and deepens breathing and pulse, while joyful music has the opposite effect.

The types of information that a person receives through the senses are called organoleptic information. A person receives almost 90% of information through the organs of vision, approximately 9% through the organs of hearing, and only 1% through the other senses.

However information can be perceived not only by humans, but also by animals and plants . You've read or heard a lot about the abilities of rescue dogs. Their sense of smell is so sensitive that they can find people even under the snow. Dogs are sensitive to the smells of tracks, but they have a reduced perception of the smells of grasses and flowers that form the background. Many animals hear high-pitched sounds that humans cannot perceive. The senses of humans and animals perceive the world around us differently.

1.3. Information properties

When exchanging information with each other, people must constantly ask themselves questions: is it understandable, relevant and useful for others, and is the information received reliable? This will allow us to better understand each other and find the right solution in any situation. You constantly analyze the properties of information, often without giving it any meaning. In everyday life, the life and health of people and the economic development of society often depend on the properties of information.

In which grade do they give more information - 8th or 10th? “Of course, in the tenth,” you say. Maybe go straight to 10th grade, get all the information in one year and finish school faster? It turns out that not everything is so simple. In 10th grade you will receive more information, but will you understand it? The 8th grade physics textbook contains useful information for you, but there is nothing new in it for a 10th grade student. The 10th grade physics textbook is completely incomprehensible to an eighth grader, as it contains “strange” terms and formulas. Information becomes understandable if it is expressed in a language that is perceived by the person to whom it is intended. Suppose a foreigner approaches you with a request to explain how to get to some architectural monument. Could you help him without knowing a foreign language?

However, this is not the only important thing in life. Only current- timely information received can benefit people. It’s not for nothing that there are weather forecasts, and scientists are trying to find more reliable ways to warn about earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

Sometimes it happens that during a conversation on the phone, noise prevents you from hearing the interlocutor, which is why you do not always accurately perceive the information. This happens in other situations too. If you sent a telegram with a request to meet you at the station, and the telegraph operator made a mistake in the date, then it is unlikely that you will be met on time. Inaccurate information can lead to misunderstandings or wrong decisions.

If two people have agreed to meet at a certain time, then they are unlikely to find each other without also agreeing on the meeting place. If you get behind the wheel of a car without knowing how to drive it, you are unlikely to get far - you have incomplete information to drive the car. Incomplete information hinders decision making or can lead to errors. Information is complete if it is sufficient for understanding and making decisions. This means that the information must still be complete and reliable.

In any situation, even a very simple and mundane one, you need relevant, reliable, complete, understandable and helpful information. Let's consider several situations.

In the morning, getting ready for school, you always look at your watch - you only need reliable information. Plus, you'll probably look out the window or look at the thermometer to decide what to wear. This is current information. Then you go to school and find an office according to the schedule. You need complete and reliable information, otherwise it will be impossible to find the right office.

You often use a geographic map to determine your travel route, get to know a new country, or study historical events. The map has always served man as a source of information about the earth's surface. It is also an important tool for research in various fields. Problems such as correlation with the real terrain and coordination of construction work, geodesy, geology are solved with the help of maps. Therefore, it is vitally important that maps correspond to the actual terrain - their reliability and completeness. Now “Geographic information systems” are being created - live maps on a computer. The information in them comes from satellites, is analyzed, and processed.
Such systems allow solving even non-traditional problems:
◊ forecast of sales volume and market potential, as they can display information about the location of stores, assortment of goods, and demographic data;
◊ analysis of the situation and selection of the optimal solution to eliminate the consequences of environmental accidents;
◊ construction of hydrographic network models and identification of flood areas;
◊ construction of models of the relief of the Earth's surface.

All cards are described in a special language that only a specialist can understand. This means that the information is not available to everyone. For a specialist, each symbol carries a large amount of reliable, objective and understandable information that is inaccessible to those who do not know this language.

In modern “space technologies”, used, in particular, on board the Mir space station, a decisive role is played by information obtained using various instruments. For example, the location of the station relative to the Sun is important for operation solar panels. The slightest inaccuracy and the ship will lose energy. Such information must be current, reliable and complete.

Test questions and assignments

1. How do you understand what information is?
2. What role does information play in a person’s life?
3. Give examples of specific information you encounter in class.
4. What is the name of the information received by a person using the senses?
5. List the types of information perceived by a person. Give examples.
6. Give examples of the perception of information by animals and plants.
7. What properties does information have? Give a description of each property.
8. Do the properties of information depend on the person receiving it? Explain.
9. Give examples of relevant, reliable information used in everyday life.
10. What properties does the information you encounter in class have?
11. Give examples that prove the vital importance of reliable, up-to-date, complete information.

Topic 2.
Presentation of information

After studying this topic, you will learn:
- what is the basis for presenting information;
- what forms of information are presented;
- what is code and information encoding;
- what units of measurement are used to determine the amount of information;
- how text, numeric, graphic and audio information is encoded in a computer.

2.1. Form and language of information presentation

Perceiving information through the senses, a person strives to fix it so that it becomes understandable to others, presenting it in one form or another.

The composer can play the musical theme on the piano and then write it down using notes. Images inspired by the same melody can be embodied by a poet in the form of a poem, a choreographer can express them in dance, and an artist can express them in a painting.

A person expresses his thoughts in the form of sentences made up of words. Words, in turn, are made up of letters. This is an alphabetical presentation of information.

The form of presentation of the same information may be different. It depends on the goal you have set for yourself. You encounter similar operations in mathematics and physics lessons, when you present a solution in different forms. For example, solving the problem: “Find the value of the mathematical expression y = 5x + 3, for x = -3; -2; -1; 0; 1; 2; 3" can be presented in tabular or graphical form. To do this, you use visual means of presenting information: numbers, tables, pictures.

Thus, information can be presented in various forms:
◊ sign written, consisting of various signs, among which it is customary to distinguish:
♦ symbolic in the form of text, numbers, special characters (for example, textbook text);
♦ graphic (for example, a geographical map);
♦ tabular (for example, a table recording the progress of a physical experiment);
◊ in the form of gestures or signals (for example, traffic control signals);
◊ oral verbal (for example, conversation).

The form in which information is presented is very important when transmitting it: if a person is hard of hearing, then information cannot be conveyed to him in audio form; if a dog has a poorly developed sense of smell, then it cannot work in the search service. At different times, people transmitted information in various forms using: speech, smoke, drumming, ringing bells, writing, telegraph, radio, telephone, fax. Regardless of the form of presentation and method of transmitting information, it is always transmitted using some kind of language.

In mathematics lessons you use a special language based on numbers, arithmetic operations and relations. They form the alphabet of the language of mathematics.

In physics lessons, when considering any physical phenomenon, you use characteristic of this language special symbols from which you make up formulas. A formula is a word in the language of physics.

In chemistry lessons, you also use certain symbols and signs, combining them into “words” of a given language.

There is a language for the deaf and dumb, where the symbols of the language are certain signs expressed by facial expressions and hand movements.

The basis of any language is the alphabet - a finite set of signs (symbols) of any nature from which a message is formed.

Languages ​​are divided into natural (spoken) and formal. The alphabet of natural languages ​​depends on national traditions. Formal languages ​​are found in special areas of human activity (mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.). There are about 10,000 in the world different languages, dialects, adverbs. Many spoken languages ​​are descended from the same language. For example, French, Spanish, Italian and other languages ​​were formed from the Latin language.

2.2. Encoding information

With the advent of language and then sign systems, the possibilities of communication between people expanded. This made it possible to store ideas, acquired knowledge and any data and transfer them different ways at a distance and at other times - not only to his contemporaries, but also to future generations. The creations of our ancestors have survived to this day, who, with the help of various symbols, immortalized themselves and their deeds in monuments and inscriptions. Rock paintings (petroglyphs) still serve as a mystery to scientists. Perhaps in this way ancient people wanted to come into contact with us, the future inhabitants of the planet, and report on the events of their lives.

Each nation has its own language, consisting of a set of characters (letters): Russian, English, Japanese and many others. You have already become familiar with the language of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Representing information using a language is often called encoding.

Code is a set of symbols (conventions) to represent information. Coding is the process of representing information in the form of code.

The driver transmits the signal using a horn or flashing headlights. The code is the presence or absence of a horn, and in the case of light alarms, the flashing of headlights or its absence.

You encounter information coding when crossing the road following traffic lights. The code is determined by the colors of the traffic light - red, yellow, green.

The natural language in which people communicate is also based on code. Only in this case it is called an alphabet. When speaking, this code is transmitted by sounds, when writing - by letters. The same information can be represented using different codes. For example, a recording of a conversation can be recorded using Russian letters or special shorthand symbols.

As technology developed, there appeared different ways encoding information. In the second half of the 19th century, the American inventor Samuel Morse invented an amazing code that still serves humanity today. Information is encoded in three “letters”: a long signal (dash), a short signal (dot), and no signal (pause) to separate the letters. Thus, coding comes down to using a set of characters arranged in a strictly defined order.

People have always been looking for ways to quickly communicate. For this, messengers were sent and carrier pigeons were used. Peoples had various ways of warning about impending danger: drumming, smoke from bonfires, flags, etc. However, the use of such a presentation of information requires a preliminary agreement on the understanding of the message being received.

The famous German scientist Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz proposed a unique and simple system representation of numbers. “Calculation using twos... is fundamental to science and gives rise to new discoveries... when numbers are reduced to the simplest principles, which are 0 and 1, a wonderful order appears everywhere.”

In 1676, Leibniz began researching mathematical laws as applied to the binary number system. Leibniz was the first to come up with the idea of ​​using binary numbers in a computing device. However, numbers in the binary system were represented by long chains of binary digits, and this was difficult to reproduce in a technical device. Therefore, the mechanical difference machine developed by Leibniz performed arithmetic operations on decimal numbers.

In 1816, the English mathematician George Boole took up Leibniz's idea and created a universal logical language governed by mathematical laws. Using this language, Boole proposed to encode statements and then manipulate them in the same way as ordinary numbers are manipulated in mathematics.

In 1867, American scientist Charles Sanders Peirce applied the laws of mathematical logic to describe electrical switching circuits.

Using two numbers 0 and 1, you can display not only numbers, but also life concepts familiar to everyone, which inherently have two opposite states, for example, day and night, good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, etc.

The achievements of scientists and inventors who contributed to the development of binary mathematics and logic for many years found real implementation only in the middle of the 20th century, when the first digital computer was created. Many years have passed since then, but to this day the operation of all modern computer devices is based on the laws of mathematics and logic in relation to the binary number system.

2.3. Presenting information on a computer

Units for measuring the amount of information in a computer

The method of converting various information into a sequence of zeros and ones of binary code, that is, writing it in a strict mathematical language, is widely used in technical devices ah, including on the computer.

Using two numbers 0 and 1 you can encode any message. When creating the first computer, this method of presenting information attracted attention precisely because of the simplicity of its technical implementation: there is a signal - this is 1, no signal - this is 0.

Binary code characters 0 and 1 are usually called binary digits or bits (from the English binary digit - binary sign). A bit is the minimum unit of measurement for the amount of information. The amount of information in a message is determined by the number of bits.

A bit is the smallest unit of measurement of the amount of information.

A larger unit of measurement for the volume of information is 1 byte consisting of 8 bits.

It is also customary to use larger units of measurement of the volume of information, which are shown in Table 2.1. Number 1024 (210) is a multiplier when moving to a higher unit of measurement.

To convert information into binary codes and back, two processes must be organized in the computer:
◊ coding- conversion of input information into machine form, that is, into binary code;
◊ decoding- converting binary code into a form understandable to humans.

Encoding is provided by input devices and decoding is provided by output devices. 

Table 2.1. Units of information volume measurement

Encoding numerical information

Numbers in a computer are represented in binary number system, that is, through two numbers - 0 and 1. This positioning system, from which it follows that the weight of the digit 1 depends on the place (position) that this digit occupies in the number. Any number can be expanded into powers of the base of a number system, including binary. When working with different number systems, it is customary to put a number at the bottom of the number to indicate a specific number system, for example, 1101 2, 1201 3, 3204 5, 3058 10, 8B50D 16.

For comparison, consider two examples of number representation:

♦ in the decimal number system the number 3058 10 can be represented as follows:
3058 10 = 3x10 3 + 0x10 2 + 5x10 1 + 8x10 0 = 3x10 3 + 5x10 1 + 8x10 0,
where the powers of 10 (the base of the system) correspond to the position number of the digit in the number;
♦ in the binary number system the number 1101 2 can be represented as follows:
1101 2 = 1x2 3 + 1x2 2 + 0x2 1 + 1x2 0 = 2 3 + 2 2 + 2 0 = 13 10,
where the powers of 2 (the base of the system) correspond to the position number of the digit in the number. 

In computer distinguish between representation of integers and real numbers.

Whole numbers are represented as one, two or four bytes, signed or unsigned. Unsigned formats only exist for positive numbers. In signed formats, the sign of the number determines the most significant digit: 0 is positive, 1 is negative. This representation is called a fixed-point representation.

Real numbers in the binary number system they are represented in exponential form:

A 2 = ±M 2 x2 p,

Where M 2- the mantissa of the number in the form of a proper fraction, and R- an order indicating how many digits the decimal point of the mantissa must move to obtain the original number.

This performance was called floating point representations .

Encoding text information

Pressing any alphanumeric key on the keyboard causes a signal to be sent to the computer in the form of a binary number, which is one of the values ​​in the code table. A code table is an internal representation of symbols in a computer. For a long time, the ASCII table (American Standard Code for Informational Interchange) was adopted as a standard throughout the world. -r- American standard information exchange code).

With this encoding, 1 byte = 8 bits was allocated to store the binary code of one character. Considering that each bit can take the value 1 or 0, the number of possible code combinations (combinations of ones and zeros) for displaying characters was 28 = 256.

In the ASCII standard, the codes of the first 128 characters from 0 to 127 were reserved for numbers, Latin letters and control characters. The second half of the code table (from 128 to 255) was not defined by the American standard and was intended for symbols of national alphabets, pseudographics and some mathematical symbols.

Currently, the Unicode standard is mainly used to encode text information, as a result of cooperation between the International Organization for Standardization and leading computer manufacturers and software. The purpose of creating this standard is a single table for all national languages ​​(for 25 actually existing scripts).

To encode the alphabets of all national languages, a 16-bit representation (2 bytes per character) is sufficient. Each national alphabet has its own block with character codes for this script.

By now, the coding of all official scripts can be considered complete. Unicode 3.2, in addition to the Russian language, supports the following languages ​​of the peoples of Russia with additional Cyrillic letters: Bashkir, Buryat, Kalmyk, Komi, Nenets, Ossetian and many others.

As a prospect for the development of the Unicode standard, it is the development of the 21-bit code space for encoding the writing of “dead” languages, additional Chinese characters and artificially created alphabets.

Encoding graphic information

There are two ways to create and store graphic objects on your computer - as a raster image or as a vector image. Each type of image uses its own encoding method.

A raster image is a collection of dots used to display it on a monitor screen. The volume of a raster image is defined as the product of the number of points and the information volume of one point, which depends on the number of possible colors. The more colors there are, the longer the code for a given color should be. The number of bits to encode one color is usually called color depth.

For a black and white image, the information volume of one point is 1 bit, since a point can be either black or white, which can be encoded with two digits - 0 or 1.

Let's consider how many bits are needed to display a color dot: for 8 colors, 3 bits are needed; for 16 colors - 4 bits; for 256 colors - 8 bits (1 byte).

A vector image is a graphic object consisting of graphic primitives. Each primitive consists of elementary curve segments, the parameters of which (coordinates of nodal points, radius of curvature, etc.) are described by mathematical formulas. For each line, its type (solid, dotted, dash-dotted), thickness and color are indicated, and closed figures are additionally characterized by the type of fill. Vector image encoding is performed in different ways depending on the application environment. In particular, formulas describing segments of curves can be encoded as ordinary alphanumeric information for further processing by special programs.

Audio coding

Sound is a continuous signal - a sound wave with varying amplitude and frequency. The volume of a signal depends on its amplitude (the greater the amplitude, the louder the signal). The tone of a signal depends on its frequency (the higher the frequency of the signal, the higher the tone). The frequency of a sound wave is expressed as the number of vibrations per second and is measured in hertz (Hz, Hz). The human ear can perceive sounds in the range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. This frequency range is called audio.

When encoding audio information, a continuous signal is divided into time intervals of equal duration (discrete samples). It is assumed that the signal does not change in each section, that is, it has constant level, which can be represented in binary code. Obviously, such a replacement of the real signal with a set of levels affects the sound quality. Therefore, the smaller the time intervals (samples), the more accurately the signal can be represented in the form of codes.

An important characteristic when encoding audio is the sampling rate - this is the number of measurements of signal levels in 1 second. Another important characteristic is the audio coding depth - the number of bits allocated to one measurement of the audio signal level.

Who has ever played computer games or, for example, received information about the current time by telephone, or dealt with synthesized sound. The output of such sounds is carried out by a synthesizer, which reads from memory the sequence of sound codes stored there. The table-wave coding method is based on a similar principle. Samples of sounds from the surrounding world are stored in pre-prepared tables, musical instruments etc. and their numeric codes. Numerical codes express the pitch, duration and intensity of the sound and other parameters characterizing the features of the sound. Since “real” sounds are used as samples, the quality of the sound obtained as a result of synthesis is very high and approaches real sound quality.

Test questions and assignments

1. What forms of information do you know?
2. Present weather information in different forms.
3. How is information transmitted?
4. What is the alphabet? Give examples of alphabets.
5. Where are natural languages ​​used? Give examples.
6. Where are formal languages ​​used? Give examples.
7. What is code and coding?
8. Give examples of coding information used in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography.
9. What is the significance of coding in the development of humanity?
10. Come up with three of your own ways to encode Russian letters, using different forms of presenting information.
11. Which alphabet is most widespread in various fields of activity? What are the names of the characters in this alphabet?
12. What is one byte?
13. Indicate what is accepted as a unit of measurement for the amount of information: 1 byte, 1 bit, 1 kilobit?
14. What is larger - 1 KB or 1000 bytes?
15. What units of measurement of the amount of information do you know?
16. Indicate the correct order of increasing units of measurement of the volume of information and indicate their correlation with each other:

a) bit, byte, gigabyte, kilobyte;
b) byte, megabyte, kilobyte, gigabyte;
c) byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte;
d) byte, kilobyte, gigabyte, megabyte.
17. A standard typewritten page should have 30 lines of 60 characters each. Determine the information volume of the page in bits (kilobits) and bytes (kilobytes). The amount of information contained in one character (letter, number, special character or space) is equal to one byte.
18. A standard typewritten page contains 30 lines of 60 characters each. Determine the information volume of a page in bytes and megabytes when encoded in ASCII and Unicode.
19. How is a bitmap image encoded?
20. What is color depth?
21. How is a vector image encoded?
22. How is music encoded?
23. What is audio coding depth?

The question “Why?” is one of the most difficult, putting in a difficult position. You can discuss anything you want in general view or in details. And the question “Why is this needed at all?” can be confusing.

We talk a lot and often about the fact that a computer is an important assistant to a person in getting what he needs. Indeed, the computer is most often used in this capacity, as an indispensable assistant in searching and processing information of interest.

Everything seems to be simple and clear. Until you ask the question: “Why do we need information at all?” The same information for the sake of searching and processing which we make unprecedented efforts. Why is it needed?

And this is not an abstract scientific question.

Some patterns

Why know the prices of goods? – To make the right choice of goods, to evaluate the possibility of purchasing them. Or to get an idea of ​​the situation on commodity markets.

Why know current situation in Honduras? – To compare this with the situation at home and evaluate it. Or to know what is happening in this distant (but at the same time close!) country.

Why know the habits of birds? – To avoid walking under roof overhangs where birds rest. Or to understand why migratory birds fly to warmer climes for the winter.

The list of such questions and answers can be continued endlessly. At the same time, certain patterns can be noticed. If you think about each question, then quite often the answer to this will be 2 options.

First option. A person needs information to make a decision. The answers “To make the right choice” or “To avoid walking under roof overhangs” are the essence of “decision making”.

Second option. A person needs information for them to accumulate knowledge. This knowledge will be useful to him not now, but in the future. Moreover, it is important to understand that much of the knowledge gained may never be useful. Or they may come in handy, and no one knows in advance. The answers “To get an idea of ​​the market situation” or “To know what is happening in another country” are new knowledge that may be useful in the future.

Relationship between decision making and knowledge

To make a decision (the first answer to the question “Why?”) information is needed. The more complex the decision, the more information is needed.

But this information must be true, otherwise the decision may be incorrect. And here knowledge begins to play an important role (the second answer to the question “Why?”). The more we know, the less information we need to make a decision.

And vice versa, the less we know, the more reliable, true information we need to make a decision.

For example, if we talk about the topic “Computer Literacy,” let’s assume that the PC began to malfunction. If we have knowledge about the causes of PC crashes and this knowledge helps us find out the reasons for the crashes, then we can make the right decision about the methods to fix the problem.

And, conversely, if we encounter such a variant of PC failure, when our knowledge is clearly not enough, then we need a lot of specific information about how such PC failures can be eliminated. Moreover, in this case, we become extremely dependent on how reliable the information we receive in the absence of our own knowledge is.

What does this connection between information and knowledge lead to? Generally speaking, we strive to know as much as possible and not to depend at the time of decision-making on the presence or absence of the necessary information.

But since it is impossible to know everything, we begin to resort to outside help. Including computer help.

What do you need to know more? It is necessary to have as much reliable information as possible and systematize it to transform simple unrelated information into structured knowledge.

What does that mean? We strive to have as much information as possible, including “for future use.” And we strive to pre-structure this information stored for future use. We strive to connect individual scattered pieces of information and turn them into knowledge.

At the crucial moment of decision-making, we need to know the answer and solution here and now, without delay, without any doubt. And if doubts still remain, we need to find, obtain and process the missing information as quickly as possible.

About the accumulation of information

We not only strive for the constant accumulation of information, but also do everything in our power to transform this information into knowledge. And this is because this is how a person, or rather his brain, works.

Everything that our brain records is stored in memory. Scientists say that the brain is able to remember everything that a person saw or heard or felt. He remembers all the information that comes from his senses.

The brain does this memorization constantly, without missing anything. But at the same time, in order to save itself from overload, the brain places the information it sees and hears where it is not easy to get. This is done so as not to interfere with the work of the brain and not to overload it with information that is largely unnecessary at the moment.

And only at the right moment, when this information is really in demand, will the brain be able to find it and process it to make decisions. This perfect mechanism of memorization and recall is a consequence of the long evolution of living beings on Earth. The result of development and evolution spanning several billion years.

The computer is an indispensable human assistant. It is a kind of continuation of the person himself in terms of storing and processing information. Therefore, here too, each individual person and humanity as a whole adhere to similar approaches.

Namely. We receive information, accumulate it and store it in computers, not trusting our own memory. We systematize the accumulated information and use it for its intended purpose at the time of decision-making. This is about an individual person - a PC user.

If we talk about humanity as a whole, then it created global networks from the same computers. And this is again for the accumulation of information, its systematization and use for decision making.

We cannot and do not want to act differently, since the entire course of centuries-old evolution tells us the most acceptable way to work with information. Acceptable because with this approach the information and knowledge we need to make a decision will be received by us in the required quantity and at the right time

Pleasant and unpleasant consequences of information accumulation

The most important consequence of the constant accumulation of information and its transformation into knowledge is the fact that any information we accumulate is redundant. We accumulate this information in abundance. For future use, in reserve. Just like the brain does.

We download files we need and those we don’t need onto our PCs. For what? Because we do not know when and what information may be useful for making the next decision. And so we collect more and more data.

In an attempt to systematize the accumulated information, we come up with various systems connections. From the simplest folders, in which we place them in one order or another. To the most complex, specially structured databases and knowledge bases in which information is stored in a systematic way.

We (people, humanity) do the same on a global scale. We created the global Internet network. We connected many servers to the network. They posted huge amounts of information on them. Then they created the so-called search engines, which systematize these arrays of information day and night without interruption so that, upon any request from any user of this network, they can provide him with the largest possible amount of accurate information and knowledge.

All this leads to inevitable redundancy of accumulated information. And this is a bad consequence of the accumulation of information. The result of a bad consequence is that a lot of unnecessary or outdated information is stored on our computers, stored in reserve. And no matter what we do to clean computers of unnecessary information that has become unnecessary, we will never ensure that the PC (or network servers) contains only the data files we need. This is impossible, since redundancy of information is the fundamental basis of modern information technologies.

A good consequence of information redundancy is that we have learned to use huge amounts of data to make timely and correct decisions. Both computers and networks have become our allies in these matters, despite the fact that they are overloaded with redundant information.

Science fiction writers of the mid-20th century described the so-called “central information centers” in the form of huge computers, where, according to the plan, all accessible and reliable information and knowledge of mankind was to be stored. This meant that for any question in this grandiose system one or more completely accurate answers could be found. According to science fiction writers, there is no redundancy of information.

The engineers who created the PC and global networks acted differently, and even exactly the opposite. They created conditions for storing and processing redundant information. But this made it possible to simulate the accumulation and processing of information in the same way as it happens in a person’s head, in his brain. Therefore, computers and networks have become indispensable human assistants.

Of course, it would be nice to have a single “central information center” where there are answers to all questions and where all the knowledge of mankind is stored. True, it is impossible to imagine who and in what time frame will be able to fill such an “information center” with knowledge. And do we ourselves have answers to all the questions? Do we know everything?

Truth and lies in computer science and in life

Is the information that computer systems (PCs, networks, Internet, etc.) provide us true or false? Can it be relied upon and used to make decisions?

In computer programs (in programs whose texts are understood and executed by a computer), the concepts of “truth” and “false” have their own unique representation. Any expression understood by a computer can only be unambiguously interpreted as true or false. Errors excluded!

To interpret these concepts, truth and false are constant and variable quantities that have the values ​​“true” (sometimes denoted by the number “1”) or “false” (here the number “0” can be used).

Therefore, for example, in the texts of computer programs you can see such expressions that are meaningless from a human point of view: 5>2=1 or 4>9=0. The first means (translated into human language) “the statement that 5 is greater than 2 is true.” The second means “the statement that 4 is greater than 9 is false.”

You can perform arithmetic operations with numbers; they can be added, subtracted, multiplied, divided, etc. And with logic (“true” and “false”) you can also perform so-called logical operations. There are only 3 of these actions: “not” (or in other words, logical negation), “and” (logical multiplication) and “or” (logical addition).

The logical action "not" means negation. It's simple: a programmatic statement "not false" means "true", and a programmatic statement "not true" means "false".

The logical operation "and" means logical multiplication. If we represent “true” as “1” and “false” as “0”, then “and” (logical multiplication) can be replaced with a multiplication sign. Then any multiplication by “0” gives the answer “0”, and only multiplication of two units will give the answer “1” (1×1=1). Thus, the result of logical multiplication can only be "true" if two "truths" are multiplied. In other cases, the answer will be “false”.

The logical action "or" means logical addition. In a binary system (in which there are the concepts of “true” - “1” and “false” - “0”), a zero result of addition can only be if two zeros are added. In other cases, the result will be “1”. Thus, the result of logical addition can be “false” only if two “lies” are added. In other cases, the result is “true”.

And with the help of this simple and somewhat even primitive set of logical operations, all of them are built that are designed to determine the truth or falsity of certain computer statements. This simplicity means that the computer cannot make mistakes when interpreting the truth or falsity of expressions (of course, if the program is written correctly, but that's a completely different story!).

However, such error-free behavior of a computer is only possible if it is initially clear what is “true” and what is “false.” What if it’s not clear? But here the computer can’t help us with anything!

If you initially enter deliberately false information into the PC, but at the same time assume it to be true, then all further computer error-free logical transformations will not make sense. And since information enters computers from the outside world mainly with the help of people who themselves sometimes cannot distinguish truth from lies, then unrestrained reliance on PCs in searching for truth or false information is at least irresponsible.

There is another reason when you cannot rely on the PC in this matter. This reason is time. The fact is that any true information can become false over time, become outdated, lose relevance and even meaning. Everything flows, everything changes, and our ideas about the world, things and events change.

This means that you cannot rely on computers and networks irresponsibly. What should I do?

How to distinguish truth from lies?

Information can be roughly divided

• for technical and
• humanitarian.

Technical information is information relating to any technical devices and systems, information about the interaction of technical devices with each other, about the interaction of humans with machines. Technical information is formalized and digitized. It is more or less accurate and can often be measured with instruments.

Humanitarian information is information about relationships between people, between communities of people, between entire countries and peoples. Humanitarian information is poorly formalized information; it is most controversial regarding the truth or falsity of certain provisions and statements. It is more difficult to measure and sometimes completely impossible to evaluate objectively.

Therefore, everything related to technical information, it is easier to distinguish true (accurate, reliable) information from false (inaccurate, unreliable) information. But there may be problems here too.

Imagine, for example, a hypothetical case. Suppose aliens (if, of course, you believe in their existence!) connected to our Internet and posted there a drawing of their flying saucer. Technical information? Yes, technical. Shall we believe it? Let's say. Can we make an analogue for it? Hardly... Why?

Because the drawing was earlier unknown device– this is still far from complete information. How to make all this? From what materials? How to create these materials? What equipment can this be produced on? Are there any drawings of this equipment? And again, where is the technology for producing equipment for the production of flying saucers? And so on. The more questions, the fewer answers.

True, in the given fantastic example, the drawing of a flying saucer can be conditionally considered true, since, suppose, it is given to us without any distortions. But since we cannot do anything about it, the questions of the truth or falsity of this information become insoluble.

The same can happen with completely earthly technical information. It exists, but is it true? Try it, check...

But with humanitarian information, even without aliens, it is impossible for us to understand from the point of view of its truth or falsity. Can certain relationships between people, philosophical categories, and reasoning about life be considered true? For some, this is truly what they were looking for. For others, it’s not at all the same.

Conclusion. Whether the information provided by the PC and the Internet is true or false - this decision remains with the user who requested this information. As they say, the company does not guarantee! You cannot completely rely on a PC, especially if the fate of a person or humanity depends on making decisions based on computer data.

Still, the computer is an indispensable human assistant.

Why then do people constantly use PCs, including where they need to constantly make decisions? Why do people trust computer information?

Why are computers often trusted even with human lives? I'm talking about computers that control planes, cars, and trains.

It's actually simple. We talked about the fact that the computer does not make mistakes; it interprets information, accurately separating truth from lies in its internal programs. And this invaluable property is very useful to us.

It is human nature to make mistakes even when receiving objective and true information. Why? Because of emotions, because of fatigue, because of overexertion and similar factors. The computer does not get tired and does not have emotions (not yet!).

But PCs have a significant drawback. He cannot distinguish truth from lies at the moment information is entered into him. If this information is entered into it by a person, especially if the information entered is humanitarian, not subject to strict measurement and.

What if this disadvantage is overcome? But as? Yes, very simple! Let's firstly try to enter information into the PC without human participation. And where this is not possible, secondly, let's make sure that this information is entered by the most knowledgeable person, the smartest and most competent in this matter.

The first option (entering information without human intervention) is used when managing technical objects. For example, an airplane computer receives a lot of information from sensors that operate automatically without human intervention. If the sensors are working properly (and for this purpose options for their duplication and redundancy are provided), then the incoming information (for example, about the speed of the aircraft, flight altitude, etc.) will be true. Accordingly, the computer can be trusted to control the aircraft. Since he, having received true information from all sensors and instruments, will choose the most optimal piloting options. No emotions, no mistakes.

The second option (information input by the most knowledgeable people) is used in human-machine systems. For example, a cashier in a supermarket punches a receipt for a customer. Everything that he has entered into the buyer’s receipt (by hand or using a scanner, which reduces the likelihood of entering erroneous data about the product) can be automatically entered into the computer. This means that the information entered about the purchase made is true. Then the computer can process it and produce the true results (who bought and how much, what products and goods are bought the most, etc.).

To sum up, we can say that

Obtaining true information using a PC and networks is guaranteed to be possible if the information entered into the PC and network is true. And if this information has not become outdated over time.

In all other cases, if the computer user is not sure of the accuracy of the entered information (or cannot verify the accuracy of the entered information), the information received cannot be trusted one hundred percent. Beware of fakes!!!

And it is not yet clear when solutions will be found to guarantee users the reliability of the information received through PCs and networks. And are such solutions possible? I consider this unlikely given that we are moving in a completely different direction. By ensuring maximum redundancy of information, rather than ensuring that only reliable and one-of-a-kind information is stored.

Anyone who doesn’t believe all of the above should try clearing the disks on their PC at least once so that only the information they need at the moment remains on them. I suggest that before carrying out this experiment, you first copy separately all the information stored in the PC so as not to lose it irretrievably.

I'm sure the experiment won't work. Because we cannot exist without excess information, this is predetermined by the entire course of life development. We need an abundant information environment to obtain and develop knowledge, and ultimately to make responsible (and not so responsible) decisions.

There is no such thing as too much information! There is false and unreliable information. And sometimes it is reliable and accurate. We always need the latter like air.

Give information, more information, more, more!..

Receive the latest articles on computer literacy directly to your Mailbox .
Already more 3,000 subscribers

.