• Composition—Is it unitary (the complete information needs to be received for it to really be usable, e.g., program executables and often images), sequential (the information can still be used if it is received in a particular order, e.g., usually video and sometimes text), or segmented (the information is made of pieces, which can largely be received in any order)? This impacts the transmission model.
• Format—What is the format of the information transmitted-e.g. jpeg vs. gif? This impacts bandwidth, security and flexibility. Note that communicated information is increasingly multi- format. While email is historically (and still primarily) textual, many emails have attachments of an arbitrary media type.
• Physicality—Does the information transmitted represent an object with a physical, material realization needed by the receiver? This impacts whether delivery can be completely electronic, or whether a separate delivery channel may be required. Note that fabrication technologies now support limited transmission of physically realized 3D objects, though we certainly haven’t yet reached the level of Star Trek replicators.