The Wired World: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of the Information Society

Citation

Baxter, G. (2003), "The Wired World: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of the Information Society", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 59 No. 2, pp. 218-220. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410310463509

In the early years of the twenty‐first century, commitment to the creation of a truly global information society continues to grow apace. Indeed, at the beginning of 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (2002) adopted a resolution to hold a two‐phase World Summit on the Information Society in 2003 and 2005, at which it is expected that the international community will develop a shared understanding and vision of the information society and draw up an appropriate declaration and strategic action plan.

The appearance of The Wired World is, therefore, particularly timely. Intended as a textbook for students of library and information studies, and as a reference tool for the practitioner, this relatively slim volume has three basic aims: to explore the underlying theories of the information society; to consider the concept of information, in particular the ways in which it is stored and communicated via various media and technologies; and to examine recent and potential future developments of the information society.

In the first chapter, Dearnley and Feather provide what they acknowledge is a very brief summary of the main theories concerning the information society, as presented by economists, sociologists and political scientists. They explain that information scientists have had little influence on theoretical aspects of the information society, pointing in part to the narrow intellectual focus of the information science discipline, but also to the universality of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Chapter 2 traces the history of computers and computer networks, from Charles Babbage's analytical engine (although the authors neglect to specify the time period in which Babbage developed his designs), through the wartime cryptanalysis work at Bletchley Park, to the eventual creation of the Internet and the World Wide Web. The growth of mobile telephony and its convergence with the Internet is also discussed. Dearnley and Feather go on to question whether the pervasiveness of ICTs has resulted in the information society foreseen by some theorists, where technology has driven social and economic change, particularly towards knowledge‐based activities. While they dismiss such technological determinism, at least in its crudest form, the authors are in no doubt that ICTs have affected the ways in which we live and work.

In the third chapter, the Internet and the World Wide Web are explored in more detail and compared with previous systems of communication, such as telephony and telegraphy. Using simplified forms of Shannon and Weaver's model of communication, the authors illustrate clearly the unique feature of the Internet – that it permits asynchronous use. This chapter also highlights two other issues raised by the “open to all” nature of the Internet. First, the lack of government control over the information that is accessible online, not only in terms of moral censorship, but also in terms of manipulating, suppressing or controlling the dissemination of information that might influence public opinion. Second, the lack of quality control of Web sites, when compared with that exercised by most traditional print publishers. The authors raise the question as to whether this freedom to publish on the Web results in electronic democracy or electronic anarchy; and while no firm conclusion is reached in this chapter, later on in the book they do assert their belief that the benefits of “the largest public space in human history” far outweigh the disadvantages.

Chapter 4 provides a concise and useful introduction to the key issues and facts relating to information policy, in areas such as freedom of the press, copyright, data protection, freedom of information and the regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting. The authors then devote a chapter to the efforts of the European Union (EU) in developing policies that aim to drive forward the creation of the information society. Beginning with the publication of the Delors Report in 1993, they provide a chronological account of key information society developments in the EU. Here, the reader is guided clearly through what would otherwise be a complex maze of programmes, projects and initiatives that illustrate a move away from purely technological and economic considerations to an approach that is driven by social concerns.

In the final chapter, Dearnley and Feather attempt to forecast future developments of the information society, although, as they acknowledge, these are comparatively short‐term predictions based on past events. They assume, for example, that there will be a continued convergence of media and content, a continued growth of e‐commerce and computer assisted education, and a continuation of the gap between the information rich and the information poor.

In addition to extensive notes and references, each chapter of The Wired World concludes with a note on further reading, which highlights particularly helpful publications and Web sites. A comprehensive bibliography containing all of the works cited in the text is also provided at the end of the book, together with a separate, annotated list of cited Web sites and some additional recommended readings. Unsurprisingly, given the fluid nature of the World Wide Web, several of the uniform resource locators (URLs) provided are no longer in existence; indeed, around one‐third proved to be defunct. Bearing this in mind, it is somewhat surprising that the authors did not adopt the now standard citation procedure of including the latest date of access to a Web site.

In conclusion, apart from a scattering of proof‐reading lapses, The Wired World is a clearly written and concise introduction to what is a wide‐ranging subject. For the student and others approaching the concept of the information society for the first time, this is a useful and practical work.