ILLUMINATION Book Chapters
Digital Intelligence — Chapter 2
Definition and Fundamentals of Intelligence
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6a, Chapter 6b, Chapter 7a, Chapter 7b, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21
Nowadays, our lives revolve around the effects of the digital deluge. Technology touches every aspect of our lives.
The digital world severely influences society and creates new norms. This unique and artificial world requires substantial intelligence to make sense of its complexities.
Intelligence is a widely discussed topic. Ask 100 people, and you will get 100 different definitions. They all may be fine. The same situation relates to the understanding of digital intelligence.
Before discussing digital intelligence, we need to understand and reach a consensus on intelligence’s meaning and fundamentals to bring us all on the same page. With a shared understanding of intelligence, my points and observations can make better sense to my readers so they enjoy and benefit from the content.
Meaning of Intelligence
I am sure everyone has an understanding of intelligence. Interpretations may differ. Therefore, my methodical mind and diligent content creation approach do not explain a topic without defining it to my audience. You may call it a strange habit. But I see a clear definition necessary. I attempt to define intelligence so that the subsequent sections can make better sense to you.
The standard definition of intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge and skills and apply them as needed. This simple definition can be unfolded using associated terms and concepts, crossing and overlapping multiple disciplines, and creating and offering different meanings for intelligence.
Cognitive science is one of the leading disciplines dealing with human intelligence. Knowledge and information management are the other fields also cover human intelligence to some extent. Artificial intelligence extends and enhances understanding by modeling the human brain.
Intelligence also relates to knowledge domains dealing with the human brain and mind. Psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience are some of the prominent examples.
I have come across foundational terms related to intelligence. Some examples are intellect, reasoning, judgment, mental capacity, brainpower, smartness, astuteness, brilliance, discernment, insights, perceptiveness, and comprehension.
These terms relate to intelligence from different perspectives. I use some of these terms to explain fundamental points related to digital intelligence.
These terms mainly revolve around human IQ (intelligent quotient). However, human intelligence goes beyond IQ. It involves emotional, social, and spiritual aspects too. You might have come across emerging disciplines such as emotional intelligence, social intelligence, and spiritual intelligence. All these intelligence types interrelate to our interactions in society.
Let’s take the term intuition as an example. Intuition can relate to cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual intelligence. Artificial intelligence studies try to emulate this concept using various approaches and methods like the machine learning model, fuzzy logic, cognitive computing, and computer vision. These studies are at a very nascent stage.
In our daily life, we describe and refer to intelligence using terms and phrases like sharpness, quickness of mind, astuteness, giftedness, alertness, aptness, wit, cleverness, canniness, smartness, talent, and even braininess in informal settings.
These adjectives describe people’s IQ rather than their other intelligence aspects. I have witnessed in some situations, for example, some people describe a talented employee as a woman or man of super-intelligence even though the talent can be related to a person’s social and emotional capabilities.
After this brief introduction to the meaning of intelligence to bring us on the same page, let’s touch on digital intelligence, which is the primary theme of this section.
What is Digital Intelligence
Quite frankly, despite my diligent efforts, I have not come across a standard definition for digital intelligence so far. Even more, I have not seen an established body of knowledge with influential and cited publications directly researching the digital intelligence phenomenon.
However, does it mean that digital intelligence doesn’t exist? Not in my humble opinion. Interestingly, during my literature search, I reviewed a few case studies using the term “Digital Intelligence” and skimmed some marketing brochures, articles, and blogs discussing digital quotient, which sounded promising. I thought it was at least better than having nothing.
I make an effort to define digital intelligence as a new term, at the most fundamental level, to be able to show you how to understand this concept for clarity to set the context.
My aim here is to create awareness and show some thought leadership, not to credit myself unrealistically as an expert in the field as the field is just about to emerge.
My definition of digital intelligence, at a high level, is the ability to convert or represent the physical world in digital format.
Even though this definition sounds straightforward, these two critical verbs, “convert and represent” present a loaded meaning and thus can pose enormous complexity. The terms — convert and represent — can extend to multiple scientific disciplines, domains, and subdomains.
Ability covers a broad spectrum of processes, people, tools, and technologies.
Physical and digital are two different worlds with dissimilar and distinct entities. They have their inherent capabilities and limitations.
By using computer science and engineering, we found ways to represent the physical world in digital formats. Physical and digital entities are related and can enhance each other’s scope.
When I explore general intelligence, I mention that intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge and skills and apply them as needed. We can transfer this definitive understanding to defining digital intelligence.
In this case, we may claim that digital intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply digital knowledge and skills encompassing the digital world. The digital world consists of various processes, technologies, tools, techniques, methods, and approaches.
Components in systems are relational and filled with interrelations. There may be one-way, two-way, or multiple-way relationships amongst components and elements of a concept, plan, or system.
Our digital intelligence, in this case, can also relate to an understanding of all relationships between these components and their sub-components.
This understanding involves an enormously complex task and hence requires in-depth knowledge of the digital world and cross-discipline skills to make sense of this fascinating and emerging world.
My conclusion is to be digitally intelligent; we need in-depth knowledge of the process and acquire practical skills relevant to the products and services of digital domains.
In the next chapter, I introduce how the architectural thinking approach can allow us to gain awareness of the phenomena, thus increasing our digital intelligence.
Thank you for reading my perspectives.
If you have time, you might check some of my stories on other topics.
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I wish I had Gone Self-Employed 40 Years Ago for Three Reasons.
Ten Hobbies Enhanced the Quality of My Life over the Past Five Decades.
A Glimpse of the 33rd Century Altered My Perspective on Life
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Other chapters
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6a, Chapter 6b, Chapter 7a, Chapter 7b, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21
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