The IT Law Wiki
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* '''Easily shared.''' Because [[information]] is easily [[copied]], it is also easy to [[distribute]] at low cost. Digital information can be shared more easily than any type of [[analog]] [[information]] in the past. In the physical world, [[broadcasting]] [[information]] to groups has serious costs and hence requires a certain wherewithal and commitment. Technologies such as [[e-mail]] and [[website]]s allow [[broadcasting]] to many people at the touch of a single [[button]].
 
* '''Easily shared.''' Because [[information]] is easily [[copied]], it is also easy to [[distribute]] at low cost. Digital information can be shared more easily than any type of [[analog]] [[information]] in the past. In the physical world, [[broadcasting]] [[information]] to groups has serious costs and hence requires a certain wherewithal and commitment. Technologies such as [[e-mail]] and [[website]]s allow [[broadcasting]] to many people at the touch of a single [[button]].
 
* '''Flexible.''' A variety of different types of [[information]] can be represented [[digital]]ly: [[image]]s, [[movie]]s, [[text]], [[sound]]. Digital information can even be used to control movement in the physical world through [[digital]]ly-controlled [[actuator]]s.
 
* '''Flexible.''' A variety of different types of [[information]] can be represented [[digital]]ly: [[image]]s, [[movie]]s, [[text]], [[sound]]. Digital information can even be used to control movement in the physical world through [[digital]]ly-controlled [[actuator]]s.
* '''Easily modified.''' Digital representations of [[information]] can be easily [[manipulate]]d. It is trivial to modify an [[image]] — say, changing hair color from blond to red, adding a few notes to a [[musical score]], or deleting and adding [[text]] to a document. So, for example, a naked body can be affixed to a head of a child, words modified from their original [[intent]] and [[music]] "borrowed" freely, and even [[virtual]] "people" created, all without leaving a visible trace of these [[manipulation]]s.
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* '''Easily modified.''' Digital representations of [[information]] can be easily [[manipulate]]d. It is trivial to modify an [[image]] — say, changing hair color from blond to red, adding a few notes to a [[musical composition]], or deleting and adding [[text]] to a document. So, for example, a naked body can be affixed to a head of a child, words modified from their original [[intent]] and [[music]] "borrowed" freely, and even [[virtual]] "people" created, all without leaving a visible trace of these [[manipulation]]s.
 
* '''Difficult to intercept.''' Because no physical object is necessarily associated with a digital information object, [[interdiction]] of digital information is much more difficult than [[interdiction]] of a physical object carrying [[information]]. In other words, there is no book, no magazine, no [[photo]] that can be [[intercept]]ed by physical means.
 
* '''Difficult to intercept.''' Because no physical object is necessarily associated with a digital information object, [[interdiction]] of digital information is much more difficult than [[interdiction]] of a physical object carrying [[information]]. In other words, there is no book, no magazine, no [[photo]] that can be [[intercept]]ed by physical means.
   

Revision as of 17:10, 5 January 2013

Definition

Digital information is

data stored on computers and in other digital media (e.g., magnetic or optical discs).[1]

Overview

"Computer programs are used to manage and retrieve digital information. Software is necessary for users to access and manipulate digital information stored inside a computer or on storage media."[2]

Digital information is not just words and numbers. Anything that can be seen or heard can be digitized, so databases can include music, motion pictures, or photographs of art works. Some databases consist primarily of images. Mixed media or multimedia works are those that package together information in the form of images, sound, and/or text.

The salient aspects of digital information are the following:

References