Description

Throughout the semester we will be talking about various entities (objects-events-systems-situations in the information age) and how they are found in real world problem areas (termed domains or fields of practice). In particular, we will be interested in how these entities (that formulate and populate the world around us) can integrate and be leveraged by Information Sciences and Technology (IST) for research, design, and development. This is often the basis for an information age as we know it. As the beginning module problem, I would like you to choose an area of interest (i.e., an entity consisting of object, event, system, or situation for a particular domain) related to IST. This may be broadly defined by you according to your current interests in IST, or alternatively, could be an area you want to know more about or investigate in depth. You can choose from various domains of interest (business, entertainment, military applications, medicine, manufacturing, criminology, sports, education, and so on) to think about how information comes to be and how it is used (e.g. information systems, information processing, information technology). If your major is not IST, please use interests in your major to help you see how the information age crosses your path. As the semester emerges, we will look at differing components of information and how they relate to problem finding and problem solving. This is your first IST 110 problem to begin thinking about the information age and what it means to you.

Orientation

This problem is an individual-based assignment that does not require teamwork. When creating your personal profile you identified your experiences, needs, pain, and personal likes /interests along with describing via an essay "who you are". This assignment expands " who you are" towards personal interests in IST and gives you the opportunity to focus in on "who you might become" given your specific interests in IST. The focus is on information seeking, discovery and finding areas of interest - to you - while exploring those areas in more depth. The explorations should help you familiarize yourself with entities themselves and how information dynamically interacts with entities. The problem also should get you familiar with thinking about information in different ways and how data can lead to information. It will also allow you to seek and collect information and use tools (spreadsheets) to work with information to discover new aspects about the entities in an area you have interests in. This is an "open" problem. That is, it is up to you to choose an area that you personally have an interest in or would like to know more about. But choose an area that allows you seek information. Therein, what you choose will be different from fellow students. Many upcoming assignments will be "closed" problems. That is, everyone will receive the same specific problem or case to work on. Since this problem is more personally oriented and more open ended, it allows you to have more flexibility in addressing it. However, like most problems, in order to be successfully one must attend to certain requirements. The following represent specific requirements for this assignment.

Requirements

I would like YOU to think about and choose one of the above entities (i.e., objects, events, systems, and situations) in an area you are interested in and complete the following:

1. Conceptualization Audit (Who, Why, What, What for, Where, How, How Much)

• Why did "something" come into existence / Why was it created? / Why is it important to know more about it? Why should anyone care about something?
• Why is "something" constrained?
• What are the constraints?
• What is the purpose (or objective) of "something" ?
• What is the cause of something? Does it have a cause that you can pinpoint?
• What is "something" used for?
• What does "something" consist of? What are its inherent functions?
• What is the structure of the entity under investigation?
• What is it’s content?
• What are some relevant examples of "something" ?
• Who is it designed for ? / Who does it serve / Who benefits?
• Who is affected by "something" ?
• Who controls "something" ?
• How does "something" work?
• How is "something" produced?
• How does change occur in something?

By using these questions (and ones like them) as probes you can begin to get an understanding of an area – entity and how information sciences / information technologies are used or could be used. These questions may be scaffolds that allow you to investigate an area in a new way to gain more information

1. Specifically determine levels/types of data-information (inputs, outputs, throughputs) that may be used by the entity in your selected area of interests. Utilize class lecture on information ontologies. To the extent possible show how data is transformed to information to knowledge for the entity you have chosen.
2. Seek out additional information on the www that adds to your database or knowledge about the entity.
3. After compiling your data and information - to the extent possible - organize it for demonstration in a spreadsheet (as taught in the lab by Xun) that makes sense.

Outputs

• You are required to turn-in a written report that describes your findings, discoveries, and summarizes your entity in the area chosen. This report is to be no more than 5 pages and address items 1. Through 4. above. Please document and cite any references you might use.
• In addition to the report, please turn in a spreadsheet that demonstrates information you discovered.

Grade

• You will be graded based on thoroughness and applicability of your response to the problem as evidenced from your paper and your spreadsheet. This means did you satisfy the requirements as stated in the problems
• This problem module is worth 5 points – hence 5% of your overall grade.