Time as a constitutive element of information expressed in signs

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find a structure of information expressed in signs. Analysis shows that the arrow of time must be included in its constituent elements.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective was achieved by discussing some important concepts of sign, both philosophical and semiotic. The results were then applied to a case study and also referred to collecting, searching and processing information.

Findings

The results of the research are as follows: a sign structure useful for information science is composed of five elements: the sign itself, the sender of an information's content, the recipient of the information's content, a context in which a sign appears and a situation (or an object) in reality to which a sign refers. The place of the arrow of time is in the element called a context.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should concentrate on the following subjects: the active or passive role of a person in sign-situations; and the sign as a subjective/objective entity.

Practical implications

Such a solution seems to be useful in the area of information science.

Originality/value

Two new ideas have appeared in this paper: the five-element conception of sign with a place for the arrow of time; and applying this idea into an analysis case study and research on collecting, searching and processing information.

Citation

Szulc, J. and Besler, G. (2014), "Time as a constitutive element of information expressed in signs", Kybernetes, Vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 911-923. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-06-2013-0120