Coping with infoglut

(Man reads long message from AOL E-mail server: “You’ve got mail! Also, Time, CNN, HBO, ICQ, Warner Bros., Netscape,

Sports ...

“Excuse me, I’m lost. Can you direct me to the information

superhighway?”by Warren Miller

“We have lots of information technology. We just don’t have

any information.”by Sidney Harris

Whoa—way too much information.”

by Alex Gregory

Please unsubscribe me. Your listserv causes heartburn, nausea,

indigestion, and sleeplessness

Got your email, thanks.

Enormous changes in communication that have taken place in the modern world and

the resulting challenges

Email, mobile phones, voicemail

We communicate in a totally different way from a few decades

ago.

Complexity of the modern world

Also related problems

Infoglut (info overload)

infoglut

People spending more time taking in info than acting on itA challenge to ensure we make ourselves understood a challenge related to different age groups a challenge for organizations

A challenge to ensure we make ourselves understood

when using email

Takes only a few seconds to reach the other person

But

Difficult to correct

any misunderstandings

(tone, humour, irony)

a challenge related to different age groups

•Older people feel excluded from text messaging

•Young people cannot write a well-crafted letter

a challenge for organizations

•Need to work out communication policies

•Ensuring the flow of info throughout the organization

•Concerned about PR

•Ensuring required public image

Spinning

Manipulating a message for a certain effect instead of giving information in a straightforward manner