The Internet and the Changing Information Environment

Citation

Keary, M.Y. (2001), "The Internet and the Changing Information Environment", Online Information Review, Vol. 25 No. 6, pp. 406-421. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2001.25.6.406.5

In 1993 the Internet was launched as a worldwide hypertext‐linked Web, and although it has grown from strength to strength, its real impact is still unknown. This report sets out to redress this, by providing hard data about information seeking in the workplace, the home and on the ground. The questions it sets out to answer are: what are the problems or benefits associated with the use of the Internet, and what does it displace? The report draws on recently funded research studies, plus current research carried out by City University’s Internet Studies Research Group (ISRG). The findings are presented in three parts.

Part one examines the size, growth and population characteristics of the Internet, which started with 1.3 million host connections in 1993, and grew to 93 million in 2000. Williams and Nicholas examined a range of sources, but found it difficult to obtain accurate data, as the term “Internet” is not used in a standard way, making it impossible to define what is being measured, and the method of calculation. Measures looked at are: demographic factors; patterns of use and user characteristics; plus the Web activity of specific sites. Only volume of use figures seemed potentially useful. Their final comment is that no single entity is in control – the Internet is getting big and it is happening fast.

In part two they reassess the special features that make up the Internet, such as currency, global reach, egalitarianism, comprehensiveness and interactivity. They reveal that people’s perception of the Internet and what exists in practice are wildly at odds; currency of information is not guaranteed; and indexes provided by the search engines are inadequate. Its key feature is hyper linking – a top class cross‐reference service, as users are indifferent to the physical location of documents they access.

Features such as global reach have facilitated journalists, but tend to increase information overload and affect the economy of their workplace. The downside is dissemination of racist, sexist and other extremist information to the world. Egalitarianism offers improved facilities for book distribution,“messaging”, and international campaigning, but Web sites are not kept up to date, and copyright affects the freedom of local newspapers. Comprehensiveness is changing the quantity and quality of Web sites, and offers “exclusive information”, as “Web only” material does not appear in any other form. It is a useful communication channel for logging into news groups, but this has drawbacks for the accuracy of data. However, interactivity has great potential for two‐way communication.

Part 3 looks at user studies in the media, with results taken from interviews, user sampling, and use patterns from Web logs. Issues such as information overload, displacement of other sources, quality and authority concerns are examined. In conclusion, the authors predict the future, and although they feel that the Internet is in a state of flux, they forecast that the Internet could become more commonplace and ubiquitous. Its growth will be driven by the digital mobile phone, displacing other sources and systems, but not replacing them; on the other hand, they envisage a profound effect on the information profession.

The report is well researched, with an extensive bibliography. It provides a very interesting assessment of where the Internet is now, and what real value it is to the changing information environment.