I remember the days when data was data, and information was a structured, usable form of that data. And then came knowledge, and a horde of definitions distinguishing data from information, and information from knowledge. We moved on from ‘data’ management to ‘information’ systems. And then we got ‘knowledge’ in knowledge management systems, knowledge bases, knowledge repositories, and more such systems.

I am often asked if this distinction even matters anymore. After all, Google has taken on itself the task of codifying and storing all the ‘knowledge’ that humankind has accumulated over the ages, and for most people, it seems to be succeeding in doing just that. (Although I beg to disagree)!! Imagine a world without Google today. Yes, it’s scary, but is it ‘knowledge’ that we get on Google, or merely ‘information’. Or is it ‘data’? Again, does it matter?

Over the past few years, the Web has evolved from a storehouse of data to a ‘global repository of knowledge’ for individuals, organizations, governments, and every social community for that matter. It has become a pervasive support system for people in their daily routine. How many of us can live without email today? Or Blogs? Or Community Forums?

A fundamental transition that characterizes web today is from a uni-directional information flow, where the publishers of content controlled the web (as in the traditional world), to a more federated structure where user-generated content gives a platform its value. The ‘power’ has moved from the publishers to the users.