Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the New Century
Konsbruck Robert Lee
Route de Chavannes, 27C
CH-1007 Lausanne-Vidy
Switzerland
Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the new Century
1 Introduction
In the past few decades there has been a revolution in computing and communications, and all indications are that technological progress and use of information technology will continue at a rapid pace. Accompanying and supporting the dramatic increases in the power and use of new information technologies has been the declining cost of communications as a result of both technological improvements and increased competition. According to Moore's law the processing power of microchips is doubling every 18 months. These advances present many signi cant opportunities but also pose major challenges. Today, innovations in information technology are having wide-ranging e ects across numerous domains of society, and policy makers are acting on issues involving economic productivity, intellectual property rights, privacy protection, and a ordability of and access to information. Choices made now will have longlasting consequences, and attention must be paid to their social and economic impacts.
One of the most signi cant outcomes of the progress of information technology is probably electronic commerce over the Internet, a new way of conducting business. Though only a few years old, it may radically alter economic activities and the social environment. Already, it a ects such large sectors as communications, nance and retail trade and might expand to areas such as education and health services. It implies the seamless application of information and communication technology along the entire value chain of a business that is conducted electronically. The following sections will focus on the impacts of information technology and electronic commerce on business models, commerce, market structure, workplace, labour market, education, private life and society as a whole.
2 Business Models, Commerce
Route de Chavannes, 27C
CH-1007 Lausanne-Vidy
Switzerland
Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the new Century
1 Introduction
In the past few decades there has been a revolution in computing and communications, and all indications are that technological progress and use of information technology will continue at a rapid pace. Accompanying and supporting the dramatic increases in the power and use of new information technologies has been the declining cost of communications as a result of both technological improvements and increased competition. According to Moore's law the processing power of microchips is doubling every 18 months. These advances present many signi cant opportunities but also pose major challenges. Today, innovations in information technology are having wide-ranging e ects across numerous domains of society, and policy makers are acting on issues involving economic productivity, intellectual property rights, privacy protection, and a ordability of and access to information. Choices made now will have longlasting consequences, and attention must be paid to their social and economic impacts.
One of the most signi cant outcomes of the progress of information technology is probably electronic commerce over the Internet, a new way of conducting business. Though only a few years old, it may radically alter economic activities and the social environment. Already, it a ects such large sectors as communications, nance and retail trade and might expand to areas such as education and health services. It implies the seamless application of information and communication technology along the entire value chain of a business that is conducted electronically. The following sections will focus on the impacts of information technology and electronic commerce on business models, commerce, market structure, workplace, labour market, education, private life and society as a whole.
2 Business Models, Commerce