The Societal Impact of the World Wide Web: Key Challenges for the 21st Century

This paper addresses the impact of information technology (IT) and the World Wide Web (WWW) on the 21 century and the challenges which we will face as responsible members of a dynamically changing society. Reviewing the spread of potentially alienating technology, the paper highlights the implications for change with reference to the “haves” and the “have nots” — developing societies, economically disadvantaged groups, women and children. The authors argue that organisational, sociological and cultural factors may inhibit an effective transformation to a global Information Society. Particular consideration is given to policies, infrastructure, human resources and development responsibilities in developing societies. 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033-1240, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING This chapter appears in the book, Advanced Topics in Information Resources Management vol. 2, edited by Mehdi Khosrow-Pour. Copyright © 2003, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. Societal Impact of the World Wide Web 33 Copyright © 2003, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. INTRODUCTION Many lessons from history offer strong evidence that technology can have a definite effect on the social and political aspects of human life. At times it is difficult to grasp how supposedly neutral technology might lead to social upheavals, mass migrations of people, and shifts in wealth and power. Yet a quick retrospective look at the last few centuries finds that various technologies have done just that, challenging the notion of the neutrality of technology. Some examples include the printing press, railways, and the telephone. The effects of these technologies usually begin in our minds by changing the way we view time and space. Railways made the world seem smaller by enabling us to send goods, people, and information to many parts of the world in a fraction of the time it took before. Telephones changed the way we think about both time and distance, enabling us to stay connected without needing to be physically displaced. While new technologies create new opportunities for certain individuals or groups to gain wealth, there are other economic implications with a wider ranging impact, political and social. Eventually, as the technology matures, social upheavals, mass migrations, and shifts in economic and political power can be observed. We find concrete examples of this dynamic phenomenon during the Reformation, the industrial revolution, and more recently, as we witness the on-going information technology revolution. Before the Reformation, the church controlled an effective monopoly on knowledge and education. The introduction of the printing press in Western Europe in the mid-15 century made knowledge and ideas in book form widely available to a great many more people. Printing hastened the Reformation, and the Reformation spread printing further. By the early 16 century, when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church, the political movement was well underway. The printing press changed the way in which we collected, transmitted, and preserved information prior to that time. Mass production and dissemination of new ideas, and more rapid response from others were instrumental in launching a worldwide social phenomenon. Dramatic changes in the economic and social structures in the 18 century characterized the industrial revolution. Technological innovations were made in transportation and communication with the development of the steam engine, steam shipping, and the telegraph. These inventions and technological innovations were integral in creating the factory system and large-scale machine production. Owners of factories were the new wealthy. The laboring population, formerly employed predominantly in agriculture, moved in mass to the factory urban centers. This led to social changes as women and children were introduced into the workforce. 18 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the "Add to Cart" button on the product's webpage: www.igi-global.com/chapter/societal-impact-world-wideweb/4596?camid=4v1 This title is available in InfoSci-Books, InfoSci-Knowledge Management, Library Science, Information Studies, and Education, InfoSci-Library Information Science and Technology. Recommend this product to your librarian: www.igi-global.com/e-resources/libraryrecommendation/?id=1