[Alamo-Girl]

I can see that. The letter in your mailbox doesn't become information until you read it.

[TXnMA]

"The letter in your mailbox doesn't become information until you read it. "

So, by extension, the bits stored on a flash drive or the pits on a DVD are not "information", either -- until they are decoded and made to perform a function that interacts with a human.

I see a Newtonian analogy: All of the above data-storage forms are potential information -- much as water behind a dam, or gunpowder in a cartridge, or a weight hanging over your head ...represent potential energy.

So, by that analogy -- and your statement, "information" could be viewed as "kinetic data" that also interacts with a sentient recipient...

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Am I even close? ;-)