The Internet and the Changing Information Environment

Citation

Fourie, I. (2002), "The Internet and the Changing Information Environment", The Electronic Library, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 58-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/el.2002.20.1.58.1

In The Internet and the Changing Information Environment Williams and Nicholas (p. 89) conclude that studying the rise of the Internet has taught them that “the rate of change, type of change, and variety of user reaction will surprise even the most seasoned Web watcher”. Even though the data they offer were probably outdated even before the publication went to press, it is important for us to note trends with regard to the use of the Internet, the reasons people use it, and the benefits and problems associated with searching and communicating over the Internet. It is also important to find out what impact, if any, the Internet is having on the use of traditional existing information services and communication channels. Such knowledge is valuable to managers, Web site designers and especially information professionals. The latter should be aware that the Web brings possibilities as well as the threat of the devaluation of information professionals.

The publication is based on the ongoing research projects by the City University’s Internet Studies Research Group (ISRG) on the media industry in their attempt to find “hard data” on what is happening in regard to information seeking in the workplace, in the home and on the ground (p. 1). Williams and Nicholas therefore quote generously from research conducted by the ISRG, but also from a wider range of publications, which is reflected in the excellent bibliography.

There are an introduction, three parts and a conclusion. In part one, statistics on the Internet are provided. This includes the number of Web sites, growth and population characteristics. Demographic factors, patterns of use, and the use of specific sites are also considered. It is interesting to note that the median age range in 1998 was 30‐49 years, and that the fastest growing group of new users are teenagers aged 14‐17. It also appears that there may be significant variations in patterns of use depending on which country people were searching from and for whom they worked (p. 17).

In part two some of the Internet features are reassessed and some general perceptions challenged. It is assumed that information on the Internet should be more current – the Internet content, however, is often no more up to date than the hard‐copy equivalents (p. 23). The global reach of the Internet, egalitarianism, comprehensiveness and value‐added information on news sites are also considered.

Part three deals in more detail with Internet users. The section on the typical Internet users especially provides for interesting reading. There are the Net worshippers, the economically driven, pragmatists, occasional dippers and enthusiastic novices. “Quite apart from the academic interest in these categories and figures, their implications for commercial site owners are tremendous. Research is badly needed by those who provide information via the Web to find out what aspects of sites encourage greater immersion; and what tactics can be adopted to turn bouncers into testers, and these into dippers and explorers, and so on” (p. 61). Several pages are also dedicated to information overload, with the interesting remark: “It doesn’t matter how much information there is out there, if you can reach what you want painlessly you are not overloaded”. Authentication and displacement are also dealt with in some detail.

Although the aim of The Internet and the Changing Information Environment was to provide managers with information on the real value of the Internet as an information source, and how it is exploited, it will also make for interesting reading for all information professionals. Hopefully it will also stimulate more research in Internet information usage and users.

The publication is available in A4‐format in an easy‐to‐read style. The only thing that may take time to get used to is the new ASLIB style for one‐column index entries!