Information society revisited: from vision to reality
Abstract
In this article a range of national and international policies,
many tied to electronic business and electronic government
initiatives, are reviewed from the much older perspective of
the Information Society. As a concept, the Information
Society has retained a form of residual currency but while
not quite dormant, it has been overshadowed by what are
essentially techno-economic New Economy perspectives.
Although these techno-economic priorities can be viewed as
contributing to the ultimate development of an Information
Society,this contribution continues to fall somewhat short of
what would be deemed sufficient. The shortfalls are particularly
evident in the case of socially disadvantaged members
of the community. In reviewing such developments mainly
in Europe but with examples drawn from elsewhere,
progress towards Information Society status is assessed in a
social context that illustrates the gap that exists between
aspiration and achievement in this regard.
Keywords: Digital Divide; e-government; Information
Society; social disadvantage; technological and social
perspectives
Publisher
University of Nairobi