Information+Society

=The Information Society=

In an information society, the exchange of information is the predominant economic activity. The transition to the information society is driven partly by changes in technology. The advances of telecommunication tools and devices have led to the convergence of the mass society. We now live and work in an information society.


 * World of media saturation,
 * extended education for the vast majority of us in advanced locations
 * Generally cleverer and better informed people
 * Large numbers of occupations concerned with “think work”
 * Instantaneous movement of information across time and space
 * Array of new technologies and esp., the Internet.
 * New technologies, higher education, symbolic work and round the clock entertainment.
 * Most important characteristic- increasing tradability and hence economic significance
 * OR is it that the information society heralds a huge increase in cultural phenomena (television, video, movies, web sites, plus a heightened emphasis on style.)

=Information Society Advocates=

toc The information society is built on 2 premises: 1.the production of information values and not material values will be the driving force behind the formation and development of the society

-technology drives transformation from industrial to information society

2.the past developmental pattern of human society can be used as a historical analogical model for future society

-the information society leads to positive roles of knowledge or human capital in the information society -success=new ideas, constant innovation, enterprise -global economy is driven by flow of ideas and new technologies which are creating the industries and products of the 21st century

-Three forces driving change in economies of modern societies: a.) Finance capitalism b.) Knowledge capitalism c.) Social capitalism

-new technology creates dynamic competition and challenges to old industries and technologies

=Information Society Critics=

-the technological changes are not novel; and there are false promises of technology -why not take something that exists now and restructure it and replace it in a digital format? For example, tellers at the bank have been supplemented and replaced with full 24hours access to ATM machines. -the move to computerize and digitize means many pre-existing cultural forms have gone liquid, losing their former shape as they are retailored for computerized expression

-"in the past man has been first, in future system will be first" (Taylor)

-"in the information society, where the demand for self fulfillment will become the motivation for action, the process of satisfying the people's demand for attaining objectives will find fulfillment in the production and utilization of information, the selection of action and the attainment of set aims" (Masuda 1981)

-it is evident in the American society that they exclude ordinary citizens from making key choices about the design and development of new technologies and information systems

The Darker side: -information gathering, documentation and surveillance equals more administrative efficiency, control and maintenance of power -gathering, recording, aggregation and exploitation for information can be and has been achieved on the basis of minimal technical support -it is a matter of differential(and unequal) access to and control of information resources -it is the management and control of information within and between groups -authorative control and external directly repressive force

=References=

Masuda, Yoneji. __The Information Society as Post-Industrial Society, World Future Society.__ US: Washington, D.C., 1981. pp.103, 9-10.