We are inundated with information and data every day. With information, more is not always better.

Every day we use data in the form of sound and images, which have undergone some form of data compression to make transmission, use, and storage more efficient.

We have GIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, VECTOR, and RAW data formats with imaging. Audio formats include MP#, ACC, WAV, FLAC, and AIFF, to name a few. When we enjoy viewing pictures or listening to music, we are not thinking of the data that has been removed; we are enjoying the benefits of technology that has chosen to optimize for our benefit.

We can filter the information we receive and consume in much the same way to help reduce Noise and make the information Signal clearer.

Do you use Social Media for information (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), or do you have a News Outlet you go to (NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times)? You might aggregate your favorite websites and blog posts using RSS feeds, or you might search more precisely with Google Scholar or PubMed. Finally, you might go directly to the primary source, including Books or Journal Articles.

Whatever your choice, make sure your source fits your needs and intended use. More information is not helpful if Paralysis Analysis sets in. Are you optimizing for Speed, Size, or Quality?

Information is endless today. Know your objective before you embark on your search.