Infodynamics: Analogical analysis of states of matter and information

This paper expands and consolidates the use of analogies in thermodynamics to explore concepts in the characterization of information systems. The analogy spans the range of information systems to include databases, knowledge bases and model bases. It includes but is not limited to pressure, expressiveness, temperature, tractability, degrees of order, systems of liquid–liquid equilibrium and disjunction in information-systems integration. By taking advantage of the isomorphism that exists between states of matter and states of information, we can understand new ways to characterize and measure information systems. This paper is the fourth in a series describing new aspects of “infodynamics.”.