The Origins of the Information Society

Abstract

We share with I.T. enthusiasts the view that information — its collection, storage, analysis and transmission — plays an increasingly key role in society. However, we disagree profoundly with the idea that this is a consequence of an Information Technology ‘revolution’ that came about in the late 1970s courtesy of the ‘mighty micro’ and is destined to change everything with which it comes into contact.

‘The bien-pensants of the information explosion seem almost obtuse in their good intentions to add to knowledge, almost disarming in their innocent enthusiasm for a ‘complete record’ which could be exceeded only by the mind of God in the amount of information it contains.’ (Edward Shils, 1967, p. 343)