The ICCC - Why, What, How and Who

The path to 1984-0 depended on computer communication technology being applied to grotesque purposes. A way to avoid treading the 1984 and the ICCC same path would be to have the alternatives along the way illuminated, assessed, compared and de-George Orwell wrote his famous social-science bated on as broad a basis as possible. That's what fiction novel in 1948, presumably determining the the ICCC does. title from that year by permuting the last two But, rather than simply avoiding the worst case digits. Two dozen years later, one dozen years ago, results, the actual purpose of the ICCC was and is the International Council for Computer Com-to help realize the best. It was formed in response munication (ICCC) was nucleated without, as I to the perception that profound changes pivoting recall, any mention of Orwell or his "1984" (let around computer communication were in the mak-me call it 1984-0). Yet, had someone posed the ing and in the belief that a balanced multidisci-question, "what could be done by a few ordinary plinary international effort to focus attention on people, unendowed with political power, to potentials and issues would have a positive in-frustrate or delay indefinitely the occurrence of fluence on those changes. Accordingly, the purpo-1984-07"-the creation of the ICCC would have ses of the ICCC were set: been a credible response. Why?-to foster scientific research and development of Orwell created a marvelously consistent image by simple extrapolation of characteristics of life, computer communication;-to foster progress in evaluation of applications familiar, or at least acceptable to his readers. of computer communication to educational, sci-Though the image was repulsive and bizarre, it could not be rejected because of an obvious flaw entific, medical, economic, legal, cultural and in the construction. That was its impact. That is other peaceful purposes;-to foster study of potential social and economic still its impact. We may find some relief in the differences between 1984 and 1984-0, but what if impacts of computer communication and of policies which influence those impacts. Orwell's work had been delayed one year by some diversion? Thus far the council has concentrated on pro-While there were no obvious flaws there was a viding channels for communication between peo-vulnerable feature, the technology to control virtu-pie of many interests and disciplines who can ally all information and communication. That's contribute to the general understanding of poten-been the key problem for would-be totalitarian tial advances, risks, …