Affiliations: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Note: [*] This paper was presented at the Informatics Session of the International Information Industry Conference which was held in Québec City, June 1–3, 1982. The paper represented the general view of the author on the important public policy issues raised by the emerging information society, and showed how the information society comes about in countries with different development status and policies, and those areas where future research is needed.
Abstract: There is little doubt that the technological requirements of a future information society are given in its elements (e.g. videotex). If it comes about, it will happen with a time-lag between well and less well developed countries. This has advantages and disadvantages for both sides, since the future information society is not yet fully understood and might have some negative effects on society if not provided for in good time. Issues to be answered range from employment and computer education to transborder data flow and vulnerability of society. It can only be hoped that all these problems will be solved, allowing the future information society to be of maximum benefit to mankind.
Keywords: Information society, videotex, information policy, transborder data flow, vulnerability, information economy, employment
