informationto

Informationto is a proposed metric and concept in information design and decision science that seeks to quantify how effectively information prompts useful action. The term is not widely adopted and there is no formal standard for its definition or measurement. Proponents describe informationto as a measure of the practical impact of information, balancing accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and actionability against cognitive and operational costs.

One commonly suggested formulation is I_to = (C × A) / (L + N), where C is a perceived correctness or relevance score, A is the extent of direct action taken, L is latency or time to act, and N is noise or confusion. However, there is no consensus on a single formula, and many researchers warn that estimates are highly subjective and context dependent.

The etymology of informationto is informal; the name combines information with the preposition to, signaling a movement from information to action. Earliest uses appear in informal online discussions and experimental dashboards in the 2020s, with no recognized inventor or standard repository.

Applications of informationto have been explored in user experience design, decision-support systems, education, and analytics dashboards where decision speed and impact are prioritized. Critics argue that the concept risks oversimplifying complex decision processes and amplifying biases in measurement, given its reliance on subjective judgments of relevance, actionability, and impact.

See also information value, decision theory, data-to-knowledge transition, human-in-the-loop.