If information is composed of data, like matter is composed of atoms, it is fair to assume that higher structures exist. In fact, there is a hierarchy of information: at the bottom is data, followed by information, and then knowledge.
Knowledge is linked information. The individual pieces of information are weighted. Some are primary, others secondary. Crucial for knowledge is the concept of reference, which is known today as a (hyper) link: information that links to another knowledge unit. Examples of knowledge are Wikipedia entries, recipes, and documented processes.
Building on knowledge, intelligence follows. From learned knowledge and accumulated experience conclusions may be drawn and patterns can be recognized. New knowledge is synthesized by creating and testing hypotheses. Crucial for intelligence is executable information, or in other words: code, which can take on the form ofalgorithms or heuristics. Whereas data, information, and knowledge are inert, intelligence requires an environment in which it is executed. Cells, organisms, computers, and networks are all systems that exhibit intelligence.
The highest level in the information hierarchy is wisdom. Wisdom is the totality of knowledge and intelligence. Wisdom allows evaluating in different ways to find a balanced solution. The interesting questions are not so much “what” (data, information) or “how” (knowledge, intelligence), but “why” and “what for”. A good example of wisdom is a library. It contains not only knowledge in the form of books and other media, but also intelligence in the form of staff and index systems.