5. Physical Information
Luciano Floridi · Information · 2010
‘Physical information’ explores the relationship between physics and metaphysics with regards to the nature of information. Information theory and processes seem to have physical properties, so much so that the laws of thermodynamics can be applied to information transfer. This rules out the creation of perpetual motion machines using information management systems to control the particles within, as certain information processes will lose energy and ‘pay the bill’. However, a quantum computer could theoretically have the power to circumvent these processes. If built, the findings from these computers could eventually prove that all matter is actually information.