Standards, Information and Communications – A Conceptual Basis For a Mathematical Understanding of Technical Standards

Ken Krechmer, Fellow, International Center for Standards Research University of Colorado at Boulder; Communications Standards Review, and Elaine Baskin

1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 10/4/2001)

This paper develops a conceptual basis for a mathematical understanding of technical standards using Information Theory. Recognizing that a comparison is basic for communications, this paper proposes that commonality is basic to any comparison, and describes how technical standards function to provide commonality. A taxonomy of technical standards is offered which identifies how technical standards are used to convert information to communications.