Information Economics Information Structures Blackwell Theorem Knowledge Management Data Retrieval System Accessibility Data Availability
Issue Date:
2009
Publisher:
Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Citation:
Serdica Journal of Computing, Vol. 3, No 2, (2009), 205p-226p
Abstract:
The value of knowing about data availability and system accessibility
is analyzed through theoretical models of Information Economics.
When a user places an inquiry for information, it is important for the user to
learn whether the system is not accessible or the data is not available, rather
than not have any response. In reality, various outcomes can be provided
by the system: nothing will be displayed to the user (e.g., a traffic light that
does not operate, a browser that keeps browsing, a telephone that does not
answer); a random noise will be displayed (e.g., a traffic light that displays
random signals, a browser that provides disorderly results, an automatic
voice message that does not clarify the situation); a special signal indicating
that the system is not operating (e.g., a blinking amber indicating that
the traffic light is down, a browser responding that the site is unavailable, a
voice message regretting to tell that the service is not available). This article
develops a model to assess the value of the information for the user in such
situations by employing the information structure model prevailing in Information
Economics. Examples related to data accessibility in centralized
and in distributed systems are provided for illustration.
