Information Society as Risk Society

24.7.-11.8. 2000 Helsinki Summer SchoolLecturer: Helena TapperTutors: Taina Joutsenvirta & Yonca ErmutluDepartment of CommunicationUniversity of Helsinki

Information and knowledge

data: refers to ’raw’ data, symbols, coded to be carried through communication networks

information: structured data, refers to inform about something new

information is organized data, it is negative entropy

Information and knowledge

knowledge: when information has a use value in a certain context, it becomes knowledge

we can talk about a stock of knowledge

originally: knowledge meant ’knowing ones way’

Knowledge

”knowledge has a. to be a trueb. well reasoned c. belief ”(Niiniluoto 1988)

Information Society

information or knowledge?information is not knowledge: information orientation in society (see Bell in

1978)centrality of scientific information as a key

resource in organizations and economy centrality of information technology in society future orientation information work/occupations are central in

society

Knowledge society

knowledge is organised informationknowledge has a meaning in a

context to userknowledge society emphasises

learning, education, change through knowing of

knowledge society /enlightenment

Information Society

emphasises as a concept centrality of technology and scientific knowledge

informational economy:tha majority of labor force works in

information occupationsinformation sector in economy is a central

sector of economythe major value of exports is information

products or services

Communication society

growth of use of various communication technologies

ability to be active in new communication

environment

Informational Society

Castells: informational society (mode of development):

’spesific ways of social organization where the information generation , processing and transmission are essential for the productivity and power’

network society

Information Society

Phases:1. information based economy2. information technology3. information society as a strategy

for economic growth 4. nation building5. globalization, network economy

Information Society

challenged by network conceptinformation society or informational

societysociety or community IT-strategiesIS-strategies as post-industrial

strategies

Three waves of information society

1. Information economy: the 1970’s and 1980’s

quantitative measures of information society, information sector in the economy

national information society programs (Japan, France, USA & others)

information work as a major share of labor force

Three waves of information society

2nd wave: information and communication technology as a key technology for economic growth:

emphasis on technology development ( R & D)

-economic growth based on the ICTsnational strategies for information

society

Three waves of information society

3rd wave: the early 2000, globalization based on information economy and technology

nation states and economies are challenged

development of national innovation systems

the emphasis on local economy

Information society today

quick global economic changesunpredictable and quick IT-

technology developmentgrowth of dependency global

economic changes

Information society today

limits to economic growth: how IT can be used to reduce pollution of environment and save resources

the nation state is challenged: what is the role of the state

growth of civil societywhat are the effects of networks for

individuals?

information society today

problems: universal service and access to communication and information: who provides the services

what is the price of information for user: who pays?

who owns the networks ?

information society today

the role of the state: regulator or provider of environment for competititon

provider of servicescompetition versus equality?

information society today

the individual: who is connected to what

new ways of communicationwhat are individuals seeking from the

media and communication networks?change of values:solidarityrisks/security

information society today

effects of new technology to individuals:

worknetworkingsocial relationsparticipation in decision-making:

democracy