Informaticology: combining Computer Science, Data Science, and Fiction Science

TL;DR

The paper introduces 'informaticology' as an expanded academic framework that integrates computer science, data science, and fiction science to address limitations in traditional informatics and broaden its scope.

Contribution

It proposes the concept of informaticology, including fiction science as a core discipline alongside computer and data science, and illustrates its coherence through potential applications.

Findings

Fiction science is positioned as a fundamental part of informaticology.

The scope of fiction science includes game design, development, and assessment.

Potential applications include ontology of instruction sequences and software quality assessment.

Abstract

Motivated by an intention to remedy current complications with Dutch terminology concerning informatics, the term informaticology is positioned to denote an academic counterpart of informatics where informatics is conceived of as a container for a coherent family of practical disciplines ranging from computer engineering and software engineering to network technology, data center management, information technology, and information management in a broad sense. Informaticology escapes from the limitations of instrumental objectives and the perspective of usage that both restrict the scope of informatics. That is achieved by including fiction science in informaticology and by ranking fiction science on equal terms with computer science and data science, and framing (the study of) game design, evelopment, assessment and distribution, ranging from serious gaming to entertainment gaming, as a chapter of fiction science. A suggestion for the scope of fiction science is specified in some detail. In order to illustrate the coherence of informaticology thus conceived, a potential application of fiction to the ontology of instruction sequences and to software quality assessment is sketched, thereby highlighting a possible role of fiction (science) within informaticology but outside gaming.