Information Society
Author: Mr D Wilson
Source of document: Open University
Date: 23/3/96
Historically there has been a move through the ages from one type of society to another. Each of these types are categorised by the dominant economic force of the period. Currently, we are a part of the information society. But what is the information society? There has been much debate on this subject. I am going to set out some of the main features as described by Daniel Bell. In particular how his view of society affects employment and what sort of products and services are a part of it. I will then describe our society and make a comparison of this with that of Bell's view.
From the arguments put forward by David Lyon [1] it can be seen that Bell argues that the information society is a natural progression from post industrialism. This he sees, as a result of the change in the dominant economic focus moving from the land, on to manufacturing and then to service. The idea is widely accepted and supported by other idea's such as Alvin Tofflers 'Third Wave' [2]. This third wave is the information society following the second wave, industrial society and first wave, agricultural society.
Post industrialism saw the increasing use of information technology in the manufacturing processes. Professional, scientific and technological groups became progressively dominant within society. The information society replaced post industrialism as the emphasis moved from industrial manufacturing to the service sector. The computer and telecommunications have played a central part in the move from manufacturing to service. As the convergence of these two technologies occurred, the synergy placed both technologies in the centre stage of society.
Bell forecasted the growth of the social framework based on telecommunications [3]. Workers would increasingly use telecommunications, freeing them from the confines of the traditional office. Work occupations would change as the use of computers and telecommunications increased. This would result in social change, in that workers would not interact at work directly but would express themselves through impersonal devices such as video phones or video conferencing. Mobile communications would allow workers more freedom. Telecommunications would change the way that knowledge was created and received. Knowledge would be created across the globe in research, teaching and commercial projects as it has always been in the past. The difference would be that these institutions or knowledge creators would be linked in real time. Information would be passed on a daily bases, rather than waiting to publish in a periodical scientific journal. Information technology would replace manual labour as the main source of added value [4]. Knowledge and information would supersede labour and capital as the central variables in the economy. Information would be treated as a commodity through direct sale or limiting access to those that have subscribed to an information service.
Bell also thought that technology would be responsible for raised living standards and reduced inequalities [5]. A new class of engineers and technicians that planned work tasks rather than actually doing the work, would emerge. Bell's earlier idea's included increased affluence and leisure in the information society, but he is now silent on these subjects [6].
As convergence continues, traditional standalone products; phone, fax, computer, cable TV, video disk etc would become one product. Very large scale integration along with mass markets would result in small cheap single products with the combined functions of previous standalone products. Modes of communication/data transmission would change from analogue phone lines to greater bandwidth optical fibre fed into businesses and the home. The paperless office may eventually become a reality.
Bell has an optimistic approach to the information society. However as the computer plays such a pivotal role in the information society, the control of computers leads to power. Controlled access; governmental, military or commercial, could lead to a dominance of culture. This may lead to future new social frictions and power alignments. Touraine [7] does not see the class struggle as outdated, more a change to technocrats and those whose lifestyles are governed by them.
The possibilities for an egalitarian society are dashed by work such as the smart house [8]. This shows how the male dominance of technological invention affects the traditionally female activities within the home. Equality does not come with technology. Social influence must be at work to allow equality to flourish.
The industrial society has evolved and manufacturing is now giving way to the service sector. Information plays a large part in the service sector but is the service sector dependent on information? Information plays a large part in all aspects of society not just service. For Bell, the move from manufacturing to service, was the key stage of development from post industrialism to an information society. Perhaps, more accurately, would be the suggestion that the move was not from manufacturing, more an insurgence of information throughout society, through cheap available data processing.
The convergence of the computer and telecommunications, and the continued technological progress within each field, has lead to the use of such technology in management, manufacturing, government, the third world, the home and many other places within the global society. Western industrially advanced nations have greater access to information technology than third world nations. However, due to the rapid development in cutting edge products, there is a vast amount of second hand cheap information technology that is available for less developed nations. There is an inequality between the developed and less developed nations but this gap, in information technology terms, is narrowing, as today's technology is replaced within three years. This period is decreasing.
With increases in the use of computers, the way people work has changed. Manual labour has been reduced while office bound controllers have increased. The nature of work and the skills required to do this work have changed. Directory enquiries are a prime example of this. Previously, an operator would have manually searched through phone books for a number and then answered the caller themselves. Now, computers to do the search and read the answer. This supports Bells argument that computers would increasingly be used but the work occupation has primarily stayed the same. The worker does the same job in a different manner that is more efficient. Computer literacy is now a prerequisite for many jobs. The ability to use a computer as a tool is an essential aspect of many professions.
Telecommunications are starting to free the worker from the office but this is in its infancy. The electronic cottage is technically possible but only a very small percentage of workers actually work from home with links to a central head office. Mobile communications technically allow a laptop equipped worker to process data on the move but again few workers actually do this.
Information is a commodity. The UK phone book if produced on CD ROM for business and home subscribers would save BT money in production costs and would also reduce paper consumption. However, BT currently sells the CD ROM to make money rather than save money.
Combination products (fax, phone, scanner etc) are available but as yet they do not have widespread take-up. This is due to a combination of product cost and the current installed base of standalone products. Information technology managers are reluctant to purchase a new combined product when all that is required, for example, is an upgraded printer. As local area networks are being installed allowing products to be shared, it is less likely that a combination product would be desirable. This is because three or more resources would be reduced to one. This would then make such a combination product only desirable for the small office/home office market. The increase in the use of local area networks provides a backbone for the social change for workers as predicted by Bell. Impersonal communication is increasing. It is estimated that the annual growth in data transmission is 20% in Europe [9].
Many of Bell's ideas have come to fruition. The service sector is the dominant economic force and computers/telecommunications are affecting workers lives. However, the optimistic view of an egalitarian affluent society has not been realised. The abundance and general use of information and information technology, shows that we are in an information society. CD ROM drives are becoming standard components of new computers. Many workers are not even aware that a network card is fitted to their computer and just accept the fact that their terminal can transmit and receive data. This ignorance of technology is also apparent in the directory enquiry service. Few users or workers would know how the search was conducted or how the answer was spoken to them. The acceptance/reliance on information technology in day to day life throughout society is clear evidence that we are in an information society but this does not constitute a revolution. Although there has been rapid change, this has not taken place overnight and is part of a continual change process.
REFERENCES
[1] Lyon D (1988) The Roots of the Information Society Idea.
[2] Toffler A (1980) The Third Wave, London, Pan.
[3] Lyon D (1988) The Roots of the Information Society Idea,
p 55.
[4] Lyon D (1988) The Roots of the Information Society Idea,
p 55.
[5] Lyon D (1988) The Roots of the Information Society Idea,
p 66.
[6] Lyon D (1988) The Roots of the Information Society Idea,
p 59.
[7] Touraine A (1974) The Post industrial Society, London, Wildwood
House.
[8] Berg A (1994) A Gendered Socio-Technical Construction: The
smart House.
[9] Zorkoczy P, Heap N (1995) Technology an Introduction, p 119.