#data #platonism The physical meaning of data refers to the interpretation and understanding of information that is represented in a physical or tangible form. It implies the significance, context, or implications of the data in relation to a specific domain or field. (Also see [[Meaning]] and [[Social Meaning of Data]].) For example, in scientific research, data can represent measurements, observations, or experimental results. The physical meaning of this data lies in its ability to provide evidence or support for a hypothesis, theory, or conclusion. It allows researchers to understand and explain phenomena, make predictions, and draw meaningful insights from the collected information. In business and economics, data can represent financial transactions, market trends, customer behavior patterns, or other relevant metrics. The physical meaning of this data lies in its ability to inform decision-making processes, identify opportunities for growth or improvement, assess performance indicators, and drive strategic planning. Ultimately, the physical meaning of data depends on its context and purpose. It provides a basis for analysis and reasoning to gain knowledge and make informed decisions within various fields of study or application. To learn the foundation, this book: [[Assumptions of Physics]] is a good place to start. # A more Theoretical Definition [[Physical Meaning of Data]] is a [Platonic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_forms) idea that is considered to be an earlier version of [physical Church–Turing thesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church–Turing_thesis#Variations). This idea also has triggered significant debates between [[Ludwig Wittgenstein]] and [[Alan Turing]]. One way to start realizing the meaning of what data is physically could refer to the original words of [[Carver Mead]](Please watch the video on [[@24InsightLogic|Logic in Physical Form]]). All these arguments indicate that data can be represented in different physical forms while representing the same thing. ## Engineering Implication The phrase, "Data has physical meaning" is particularly applicable to the architecture of computers or networks of computers. The speed of how data can be transferred and the way data are being represented determines the boundary of how data could affect the physical world. The intentional act of organizing information processing tools, either by human organization or by machine architecture, is considered to be a way to assign physical meaning to data. For example, complex numbers are only required for [[Quantum Mechanics|quantum physics]]([[@24ComplexNumbers|Does Complex Number Exist?]]). That implies imaginary numbers are only required to represent the physical meaning of data in the quantum physical world. For more discussions on this subject matter, please refer to [[Paul Dirac]] and [[John von Neumann]]. From an information processing technology viewpoint, the recent advancements in processing massive amounts of data with very little physical resource is becoming a major source of societal growth and chaos. Therefore, the physical meaning of data in measurable forms, such as memory sizes and processing speed should be embedded into our daily human language, so that people would be constantly aware of what they are doing. ## Data Processing - Semantic Chunking ![[@5LevelsTextSplitting2024#Exemplifying the Physical Meaning of Data]] ### The Web and the eBPF Kernel The [[World Wide Web]] and the ubiquitous browser helped to collect and present information around vastly distributed physical spatial locations and time durations and expanded the physical meaning of data at large. At the same time, the programmable kernel, specifically the eBPF kernel that practically runs in all machines around the world, provides a software protocol to introduce new functionality to many standard operating systems around the world. This kind of programmability created a new playground for introducing behavior at a very large physical scale, which was never conceived possible before. One should consider that people who are aware of the implicated meaning of these programmable data instruments are a different species of agents in the physical realm. # Relevant to art [[Leonard Shlain]] wrote books on this subject:[[@ArtPhysics|Art & Physics]], and [[ @shlainAlphabetGoddessConflict1999|The Alphabet versus the Goddess]]. # Relevant lectures [[Leonard Susskind]] in his Oppenheimer Lecture<ref>{{:Video/THE 2022 OPPENHEIMER LECTURE: THE QUANTUM ORIGINS OF GRAVITY}}</ref> gives a good story about how to assign [[Physical Meaning of Data]] that cut across [[Quantum Mechanics]] (microscopic phenomenon) and [[Hub/Theory/Sciences/Quantum Mechanics/gravity]](macroscopic phenomenon). ## Relevance to Accounting [[Measurement and objectivity in accounting]] ## 10 Minute Window on Blockchain The [[Correctness]] guarantee or rigorous ordering guarantee of the Bitcoin blockchain is limited by the 10-minute timeframe, resulting in a lowerbound resolution of 10 minutes. To clarify, the Bitcoin blockchain is a service that has the potential to facilitate the global data supply chain in providing a 10-minute data resolution for the Physical Meaning of Data. # Historical Document The first and foremost important document that stated this idea can be associated to [[Moore's Law]]<ref>{{:Paper/Cramming more components onto integrated circuits}}</ref>. This document is important because it links across socio-technical world, and explicitly stated that the physical size of data has economical and social implications (see [[Social Meaning of Data]]). The other document that also talked about the [[Physical Meaning of Data]] is [[Paul Dirac]]'s book on [[@PrinciplesQuantumMechanics2013|The Principles of Quantum Mechanics]]. ![[Examples of Socially and Physically Meaningful Data]] # References ```dataview Table title as Title, authors as Authors where contains(subject, "physical meaning") or contains(subject, "Physical Meaning") or contains(subject, "Event") or contains(subject, "Representability") ```