There has been an 'information revolution', this will have and is having profound social consequences; " here are the sorts of impacts one may anticipate and which may already have been evidenced." (Webster, 2002,p264) Why are such views so prevalent, and why do Webster and other critics dismiss them?
Since the early days of the industrial revolution innovation and human endeavour have served to change industry, economics and society. The recognition of new and better ways of combining land, labour and capital to enable the production of goods, determining technological progress. Over the last decade however the third or tertiary stage of productivity, that is the service sector has become the focus of economic growth, outstripping the manufacturing sector. New kinds of work have replaced old, new regions expanding, often at the expense of the older industrial regions. "Growth implies change, a painful process for some" (Heathfield & Russel, 1992,p19).
English: Second preliminary session of the World S...
Bell's Beer Sampler
Dead Taco BellThis turn to Informationalism at the expense of industrialism has led many to believe that there has been an information revolution.
In this essay I will identify and give evidence of some of the social consequences expected, the anticipated impact viewed by many as proof of an information revolution and thereby the advent of an Information society. Such views are prevalent, many believing the redefinition of society is based somehow on information. This essay will continue by attempting to show the rationale behind such views. The last decade has indeed seen unprecedented transformations in modern society, understandably providing evidence of a fundamental change in the world at large.
The advent of digitalisation, mobile telephony and networks, particularly the Internet, has led some authors to declare a new form of society - the 'Information Society', also referred to as the 'Knowledge Society' or 'Network Society'. These commentators believe that changes since...