Information Society

Introduction

"An information society is a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political and cultural activity’ (Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia).

Societies have evolved over recent centuries from agricultural communities to industrial giants. Sociologists, amongst others, are fascinated by the changes that have occurred in society, particularly since the advent of the industrial revolution to recent times. The last few decades have been referred to as the information era and this essay will be discussing the theories of several prominent authors, such as Daniel Bell, Frank Webster, Fritz Machlup and others, regarding the notion of an ‘information society’. The varying approaches have all have gained some momentum over the past few decades as technology advances. There will be some comment on their interpretations, how the information fits into our society, and the ways it has effect has possibly changed us. It will also see if any or all explain just what an information society is.

Contrasts of Society

It appears that there are fundamental differences between society post-industrial revolution and the information society. During the British industrial revolution, society changed from small family orientated communities with people working on the land, to the mass of the population moving out of the rural areas to work in the growing numbers of factories in the towns and cities. Manufacturing was booming, and

Britain became major exporters. However these new working conditions were often very harsh and pay was very low. Workers went from the flexibility of working for themselves, or working with family ...

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...an information society. We are probably all networking on some level, whether in a large business, a call centre, or on a personal level using the internet to contact or find friends. The WSIS, are definite advocates of the information society, and seem to hold very high hopes for it.

From the evidence, it appears that there is a change in the way people earn a living these days in the West, and that the workforce is increasingly using ICT rather than engaging in manual work. Perhaps this is the start of a new information society.

We shall have to wait and see,

Works Cited

Theories of the information society, Frank Webster

The Information Society Reader; Frank Webster

www.wikipedia/free dictionary

Antony Giddons. Sociology 6th edition

World summit on the information society (Geneva 2005)

www.itu.int/wsis/docs/geneva/official/dop.httml.