Information Technology and Society examines the social, political and technological implications of the information revolution. The book explores the major social and technological issues surrounding the introduction of information technology into everyday life; presents historical and comparative perspectives on the social and technological processes involved in the uses of, control of and access to IT; critically examines the assumptions underpinning technological development. Divided into five sections, each with a detailed introduction, the book provides a comprehensive overview of information technology, and its implications for all of us - in the workplace, in education and in the home. Key issues, from technological determinism to globalisation, privacy to labour relations, and telework to disability, are discussed from comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives. The collection also examines future applications of the technology including advanced telecommunications and virtual reality. Contributors place the debates around IT in an intemational context, illustrating the importance of social values as well as government policy.
Providing a complete overview of the issues that inform any discussion about the impact of information technology, this is an invaluable resource for teaching and research on information technology. Information Technology and Society is Course Reader for the new Open University Course THD204