Information is simply the summary of data collected. Technically, information are purely formal statistical data and abstract concepts which are formulated into meaningful data, including totals and summaries. However, both the terms can be used interchangeably because data can also be both the raw data for another person or task, and the final information for a job description. Thus, any structured information system which contains both quantitative and qualitative information is called a information system.
When it comes to the definition of the term “information,” most people agree that it is a means of information to support an argument, or to demonstrate something. In other words, information is what makes things come to life, especially when one is engaged in research or analysis. The more the information is processed and analyzed, the clearer the message becomes. Thus, in business, an information booth is a means of information to promote a particular product or service. It is like a giant information display, a moving billboards, and an enormous information highway.
As an example of a very visible information highway, a New Jersey Information booth (or any information display which contains information) can be compared to the Long Island Information Highway – a popular tourist attraction in southern New York State. At any given time, someone traveling from point A to point B in that highway can see approximately thirteen different billboards. While traveling along the highway, a visitor could easily stop at each billboard and learn more about the offerings of the various companies along the way. In short, a billboard is frequently used as a means of information interchange – it allows travelers to learn more about the destination before they get there, rather than having to sift through endless travel brochures and maps at their own pace.
But although a billboard is a common form of advertising, what is less commonly used as a marketing tool is the information kiosk or “whitewash” machine. A whitewash machine is designed to offer people information about certain products, services, or current events. These machines are often located in convenience stores, airports, hospitals, train stations, movie theaters, etc. Many businesses use these types of information booths in order to draw in extra customers – for example, during the Super Bowl in February, many NFL stores feature information on upcoming matches. Often, these machines are also found at restaurants.
As a technology, whitewash displays have been around for quite a long time. The earliest model was invented by the Kees Kaasa Company in 1903 – it offered two different options for its customers: a paper-based option and a chalkboard-based option. The paper-based option offered advertisers the ability to advertise for free. While this attracted some early patrons, mainly due to the fact that it was so inexpensive, people soon discovered that the only way to benefit from this machine was to actually read the advertisements. With some push and effort, it was possible to simply skim through the ads and make decisions based on what was being presented to them.
During the 20th century, the Kees Kaasa Company improved upon the information booth and began developing products that offered more features to help advertisers better target their audience. One such improvements was the inclusion of “gilgamesh” or “jewels” as information options. Instead of having to look at a vague list of options (in English) that were clearly not related to the company’s offerings, potential customers could be given something relevant to what they were looking for. The jewelleries came in the form of pendants, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and in larger sizes, watches. Gilgamesh was also added to the information display; as the name connotes, this was a representation of the Persian Empire’s glory.
Today, Gilgamesh or Glimsh is used as a slang term for gambling, especially online, but it has also been used in print forms for years. For example, in an article printed in the October issue of The Atlantic Monthly, a writer stated that she had gotten the ” Gilgamesh of Connecticut” for a birthday gift from her daughter. The meaning varied depending on who the writer was talking about; however, most assumed that the word meant good luck.
In many different cultures, including India, Gilgamesh is thought to represent fortune and success, as well as wealth and prosperity. In the ancient world, however, Gilgamesh was a god of commerce. The story of Gilgamesh states that he built the first information booth to help him exchange information with all of his people. The information in the booth included a variety of things, including the rising and setting of the sun. All of the different events that happened during the summer were meant to represent how the seasons change throughout the year. The business of information trade in the ancient world is alive and thriving today, and Gilgamesh represents a very important aspect of it.