Information Science Vis-à-Vis Physical Science—The Areas, Scope and Changing Scenario

P. K. Paul1 and S. Mewada2,a)

1Department of Computer & Information Science, Raiganj University, WB, India 2Department of , Government Holkar College, Indore, MP, India a)Corresponding Email: [email protected]

Abstract. Information is most valuable asset these days and required in all the areas and sectors. There are many subjects which are associated with information but among these most valuable and important is Information Science. Information Science is deals with the studies, reaching and research in the field of information and content. Initially only Information Science considered as important nomenclature for information solution and gradually it is also considered as a field for technological solutions as well. It is treated as broader than some of the fields viz. Computer Science, Information as information management, further Information Science also considered as an interdisciplinary field of study. This field gradually becomes important and common in other subjects and sector. Therefore it is dedicated in development of other domain specific Information Science viz. Health Information Science, Geo Information Science etc. Information Science applications in the entire domain and fields are also noticeable viz. in the social sciences, physical sciences, bio sciences and so on. The rapid developments of Computer and similar have started a new edge in existing Information Science field for its activities. The rapid growth of different technologies, methods, systems etc. aided Information Science and with other nomenclature. This Paper is talks about the background of Information Science including advancement of the field empowered by IT and Computing. Paper is also talks about the emergence of Information Science in Physical Sciences i.e. Physical Information Science with reference to the Quantum , Chemo Informatics, Geo Informatics, Environmental Informatics.

Keywords Information Science, Information Science and Technology, Physical Information Science, Interdisciplinary Science

INTRODUCTION

Information Science is engaged in information activities with traditional as well as computational procedure. Information Science is also called as Information Science and Technology with an additional focus on Information Technology applications. Initially Information Science only covers with the information management including information retrieval, knowledge organization, knowledge management, modeling, information access and systems management etc [1], [10], [20]. but newer Information Technology components such as Database Technology, Web Technology, Networking Technology, Multimedia Technology, Software Technology have changed the field entirely. Due to the interdisciplinary nature it has been added some of the other components like Management Science, Social Work and Sciences, Mathematics and Operations Management, Psychology, Public Policy Management , Law and Legal Studies and such integration makes Information Science a true interdisciplinary studies. The emergence of IT and Computing also important and it has changed the contemporary Information Science with various components such as Cloud Computing, , Robotics etc. therefore Information Science have impacted diverse areas and results many domain centric Information Science. This is also important to note that Information Science is also called as Informatics in some countries, territories, regions and educational institutions. Therefore the nomenclature may change accordingly [4], [13], [24]. Objective

The present paper entitled ‘Information Science Vis-à-Vis Physical Science—The Areas, Scope and Changing Scenario’ is a review based paper and deals with various aspects—  To know about the basics of Information Science with reference to the historical background, earlier focus and components.  To know about the similar nomenclature in the field of Information Science.  To learn about the emerging technologies of Information Science and changing scenario of new areas and technologies.  To know about the different domain centric Information Science with reference to the Physical Information Science.  To find out basics of Quantum Informatics, Chem Informatics and few other Physical areas of Information Science.

Information Science: The Root and Changing Scenario

Information Science is one of the old subject dealing with the information than other allied fields like Computer Science, Computing, Information Technology. Information Science dedicated in collection, storing, sharing and protecting of information of different forms and methods in addition to the information analysis. Though in other view, Information Science is considered and confused with the , though there are many basic differences of Information Theory and Information Science. There are many definitions on Information Science and in generally Information Science is concerned on the study and practice of collection, manipulation, retrieval and dissemination in the common stock of human knowledge [14], [15], [30]. Though, after the development of the Computer Science the traditional look, concept and scenario of Information Science has been changed radically. During 1950s the concept of information storage and retrieval were increased in the electronic form aided by the automatic devices. Later on 1960s and 1970s more electronic means using Computers with the example of the batch processing systems, online systems, various computers increased gradually. Due to the role of information in different sectors thereafter Information Science become an important field viz. , psychology, management science, computer science, , law and others. Later in 1980s various other databases Grateful Med, Dialog, Compuserve been used and since here Information Science concentrated on the understanding of the problem regarding information with their probable solutions and here various techniques, methods, principles are used [6],[11], [22]. Here many IT components are being used—  Software Systems and Technologies  Networking Systems and Technologies  Web Systems and Technologies  Database Systems and Technologies  Multimedia Systems and Technologies etc. These sub technologies are considered important in developing healthy information management and to be useful for the individuals, institutions and community. Soon after, many academics have started various flavors of Information Science viz. ‘Information Science and Computing’ and ‘Information Science and Technology’. However Information Science has core agenda in information solutions with the support from the Information Management, Knowledge Organization, Societal aspects of Information and technologies etc. There after the role of Information Science in diverse section has birth many other Information Science or Informatics viz. Health Informatics, Geo Informatics, Bio Informatics, Medical Informatics, Chem Informatics, Quantum Informatics, , Urban Informatics etc.

Physical Information Sciences: The fusion of Information Science and Physical Sciences

Information Science applications in other areas leads many other subjects and these are may be classified into different way viz. General Informatics (these may include the Health Informatics, Geo Informatics, Bio Informatics, Medical Informatics, Chemo Informatics, Quantum Informatics etc), Emerging Informatics (may include Ecology Informatics, Security Informatics, Informatics, Urban Informatics, Neuro Informatics etc) [7], [8], [19]. Therefore in the context of the clustering of all the physical science centric Informatics/ Information Science some of the areas may deemed as Physical Information Science are—  Quantum Informatics/ Information Science  Chemo Informatics/ Information Science Partially some of the other areas may also consider as part of Physical Information Science since such are part and indirectly connected with the above; and these are Pharma Informatics, Environmental Informatics, Geo Informatics. Here in this work Physical Information Science majorly focused on Quantum Informatics and Chemo Informatics, and partially Environmental Informatics and Geo Informatics.

Quantum Informatics/ Information Science

Quantum Informatics/ Quantum Information Science, in short QIS is dedicated in information collection, selection, organization, processing, management and dissemination with higher speed in different formats within a moment supported by quantum technologies. Here optics and quantum physics play a leading role in addition to the basic mathematics and mathematical modelling. Data and information are rapidly growing and emerging worldwide due to its importance. Quantum Informatics is dedicated in both computer and physical science. In general this is the merger of Quantum Science and Information Science including some of the other allied subjects [3], [12], [33]. Ultimately Quantum Information Science is an advanced Informatics and knowledge cluster supported by various other fields viz. Computer Science, Physics, Information Studies, Management Studies, Mathematical Science, Nano-Technology. Quantum Information Science is delivering new insight into fundamental problems regarding the computation and physical science. The background of Quantum Informatics /QIS emerged about 70 years back with the initiation of the Quantum Theory. The bright future of QIS warns us about several problems in its development. The two important properties of classical information are include the follows—  It can be read and copied without being disturbed.  The state of a composite system can be fully specified by specifying the state of each of its parts. Quantum information system basically follows such principles and this implies that a quantum information system can is therefore useful in the classical system. Further it is revealed that noisy quantum devices can be able in healthy and proper reliably of store and process suitably encoded quantum states [5], [23]. With the logical qubit is encoded not as a single physical therefore in the form of entanglement, it becomes far more robust and speedy. Hopefully the quantum of moderate complexity is required in variety of implementations and the advancement in the technology of quantum cryptography is better in commercialization impact in diverse areas but with the focus on nano scale engineering and precision metrology, future advances in diverse field with the support from the areas like mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, material science and engineering and information theory. Therefore among the scientific ideas of the twentieth century QIS will set a new order of science in the twenty first century. Quantum Informatics hence dedicated in faster and transparent information transfer powered by Quantum Computing, Quantum Physics, and Information Theory. Here classical type of information, coding, cryptography and computational complexity are required therefore. The development of healthy techniques has been provided by the Quantum Informatics for the manipulation and monitoring of the characteristics of single automatic, electronic and nuclear systems. Quantum Informatics is a perfect practicing field and sophisticated information systems and network for the faster . The communication between the computational tools and larger systems including complex computing systems become more speedy way with Quantum Informatics practice. Fundamentally the core pillars of the Digital Information Services are general computers which are encoded in bits, where as Quantum Information System encoded in Quantum bits or simply QBITs. Therefore Quantum Information Science affects both internal and external information systems and the following attributes may be consider as important of Quantum Informatics and its practice—  Quantum Informatics may be consider important for its role in transferring, delivering and collecting large amount of data within a moment.  To find out the prime factor of a number in a short span of time Quantum Information Systems may be considered as important and worthy.  Information explosion and its management become important and valuable using Quantum Informatics practice.  With the help of Quantum Informatics the scale quantum computer may boost with the Quantum Technology. Further the quantum states are actually highly unstable therefore it is not observed without being distributed.  Quantum Informatics is supported with the characteristics of the quantum entanglement and here compressibility of quantum messages are able in quantified.

Quantum Applications in QBits Computing Information Science

Quantum Information Science

Speedy Data Communication

Fasters and Transparent

Able in higher audio & videos

Healthy Digitalization

Developed Superb Information Infrastructure FIGURE: 1-The ultimate role of Quantum Informatics

Quantum Informatics therefore play a leading role within Physical Information Science dedicated in speedy and transparent information systems development and transparency [27], [28]. Quantum Informatics is playing greater role in Quantum Information Systems and also Quantum Computing due to its role.

Chemo Informatics

Chemo Informatics is also called as chemical informatics or cheminformatics; this is the merger between Chemical Science and Information Science. This is focused on the activities viz. storing, indexing, searching, retrieving, and applying information about chemical compounds. The uses of chemo informatics techniques including pattern recognition and data visualization was initially introduced and practiced by the Dmitri Mendeleev (1834–1907). The expert on this area also work on chemical names and formulas, and also search for retrieving information of the physical properties including the three-dimensional molecular structure, structures, chemical reaction pathways, advanced information storage and retrieval technologies in the field of Chemical Sciences and allied areas [9], [18], [22]. Chemo Informatics is a kind of interdisciplinary and interface science which is combines from different subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Biochemistry, Statistics and informatics. In generally it is focused on the analysis, simulation and modeling of chemical information that can be in 2D structure or in 3D structure. In diverse areas Chemo Informatics is applicable viz. agrochemicals, food technology, pharmaceutical and including in recent molecular sciences. Cheminformatics is dedicated in the designing, creating, organizing, managing, retrieving, analysis as well as dissemination and visualization of the chemical information. Cheminformatics is uses and transform data into information and information into knowledge and such can be deemed as inductive and therefore it may be required in maintaining and accessing the enormous amount of chemical data generated by the chemist or similar professionals by using a proper database. Further it can be treated as a novel technique for knowledge extraction and also structuring of the chemical compound and biological activity. Core as aspects of Chemo Informatics are include-  Information Collection and Management (This is the methods responsible for the collection of the data and also in development of databases for the purposes of storage and retrieval of information).  Information Use (Chemo Informatics is required for the purpose of Data analysis, correlation and model building).  Information Application (with the Chemo Informatics proper molecular properties can be analyzed and such are needed in drugs, virtual screening, system chemical biology networks)

Chemo Informatics is the proper and healthy applications of information science and technology in investigating new problems, organize, analyse, and therefore it is needed in proper development of novel compounds, materials and processes. Primary modules of Chemo Informatics is depicted in following figure— Computer-Assisted Synthesis Design

Structure Representation

Chemmetrics

FIGURE: 2-Primay Modules in Chemical Informatics

There are different kinds of software and tools being used in healthy Chemo Informatics practice for the computer assisted organic synthesis. Some of the tools with their brief is depicted in Table: 1. All these are required and useful in case to case basic (i.e. industry and fields), and these are growing rapidly.

Table: 1-Some Popular tools used in Chemical Informatics practice Chemo Informatics Tools Brief on the tools ISIS ISIS is dedicated in Drawing of the chemical structure and further it is the interfacial software to ISIS/Base database. ChemDraw ChemDraw is a and it is available for Macintosh and Microsoft Windows. ChemWindow It is a chemical structure drawing program and with this the template can be created by the customer easily.

ChemReader It is a software developer toolkit for translating digital images of chemical structures and it is also needed in other open source or commercial software. JME Molecular Editor It is a Java applet and dedicated in draw / edit molecules and reactions and further it is needs to depict molecules directly within an HTML page. PLSR (PLS-Regression) It is a simple chemmetrics tool to analyse data with many, noisy, collinear, and even incomplete variables in both X and Y. Wendi Wendi is a data mining tool and dedicated in healthy relationships (Web Engine for Nonobvious Drug between a query compound and scholarly publications. Information), ChemMine It is the tool is an online service for small molecule analysis for the usefulness in various analytical analyses in chemical genomics as well as in proper drug discovery. CML (Chemical Markup Language) It is the combination of semantic text and non-textual information of chemical structure like HTML pages.

PubChem This tools is used as repository technique and fruitful in experimental biological activity. It is a chemical tool box and dedicated in inter converting of the chemical structures between different formats. AmberTools It is used in Biomolecular simulation for healthy Chemo Informatics practice.

Therefore Chemo Informatics is useful and effective in diverse areas of Chemical Information Management viz.—  With Chemo Informatics practice proper chemical structures from chemical database become easy.  Chemo Informatics is important in the activities of physical, chemical and biological properties as well as their components.  In the areas of Structure, Substructure, Similarity and diversity finding and matching Chemo Informatics is important.  High Throughput Screening is useful in quickly screen chemical compounds in search of a desired activity.  In Interaction between two macromolecules also Chemo Informatics considered important.  In proper and healthy Drug Discovery, it is important [5], [22].  In the field of Molecular Science, Materials Science as well as in Food Science it is important apart from the Atmospheric chemistry, Polymer chemistry, Textile Industry.

Thus Information Science/ Informatics is worthy in overall uses and development of the Physical Sciences and apart from the Chemical Informatics or Quantum Informatics (which is close with Physics), it is also needed in Mathematics and Statistics in different activities of the fields [16], [17], [25]. However in the context of Physical Information Science partially as an allied fields following could be considered as important and valuable (i.e. Geo Informatics and Environmental Informatics)

Geo Informatics

Geo Informatics is partially may be deemed as a part of Physical Information Science and it is an interdisciplinary subject that deals with various spatial information. Geo Informatics is close with few other subjects like Geo Information System, Remote Sensing, Earth Observation etc. and here different technologies of IT and Computing are widely used (in the spatial data management) viz.  Software Systems and Technology  Database Systems and Technology,  Network Systems and Technology,  Web Systems and Technology,  Multimedia Systems and Technology etc In spatial data management this field is required in physical science attributes and due to the affairs in collection, selection, processing and management of Geo Data and Information Management. Geo Informatics is widely useful in Government, Education, Transportation and Tourism and it is considered as important environmental friendly tools and concept and widely used for different purposes. Geo Informatics is therefore consider as important branch in Geo Sciences that inter connects various IT and Geo Sciences including physical and earth related Sciences. Geo Informatics is required in proper physical and environmental promotion and especially ecological management. There are different applications of Geo Informatics and these are increasing day by day due to its importance and role in the environment and societal development. Initially GIS was restricted on environmental related issues only but now in other areas also it is useful viz. Education, Healthcare, Transportation and Tourism, Governance etc it is widely applicable and gaining rapidly in other emerging areas [2], [26], [34].

Environmental Informatics

Environmental Informatics is another area that allied as Physical Information Science and deemed as an interdisciplinary practicing facet and dedicated in proper Information Technology applications in Environment, Nature, and Ecology including some of the other areas viz. Geology, Agriculture, Forestry, , Climatology, Oceanography, etc are also important stakeholders of Environmental Informatics. Environmental Informatics is the merger of both environmental and information sciences for the complete natural processes with language common to both humans and computers. This is required in forestry, agriculture, ecology and environment, corps and horticulture, geography and geology, areas as well [7], [29], [32]. Environmental Informatics including other allied areas like Ecological Informatics, Forest Informatics etc. uses various Computing, Technologies, Informatics principles which are directly useful in Environmental Management, Sustainable Computing and Information Technology and partially on Physical Information Science practice (Refer Fig: 3).

Information Science

Social, Health, Business and Physical Sciences Business Applications

Improved Mechanism in Natural, Social and Physical Systems

FIGURE: 3-Complete Development of Physical Science and Systems using IT & Information Science practice

CONCLUSION

Information Science is changing rapidly and emerging in divers areas and fields. Information Science in other subjects have results various new nomenclature and all are important in their respective fields for the information and technological solutions. Information Science or Informatics in physical sciences plays an important role in healthy physical sciences. For further development information-intensive society on new mathematical and physical science based systems and methods are essential. It is required towards analyzing the principle as well as mechanism of natural, social or both for healthy information infrastructure building. Further it is required in synthesizing newer methodologies and structures for future computer and information systems, and in this context proper interaction between mathematical and physical sciences are highly solicited. This is ultimately responsible in building of the intelligent information processing, and applied information systems development and also in cutting edge research in natural and physical sciences towards the development of information-intensive society. However proper Physical Information Science developments are many ways depends on proper training, educational and academic program, research programs at the educational institutions and organizations internationally. REFERENCE

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