The Internet and its likely Impact upon Society, Business and the Economy

Readers may be interested in the new paper "The Internet and its likely Impact upon Society, Business and the Economy" (available online at http://www.twinisles.com/dev/research/intimp.htm)

Abstract

This paper considers the major implications of the growth of the Internet for society, business and the economy. It begins by tracing the development of the various technologies which form the Internet from their origins to the current state. Some 10% of the world's population now has access to this vast resource of billions of interlinked documents covering every imaginable topic. The Internet presents both opportunity and challenge for business. Profit can no longer be guaranteed from price differential alone, but for those able to adapt and innovate huge potential rewards exist.

The Internet provides numerous opportunities for small business start-ups. Those whose work is essentially information processing or production are now able to work from the comfort of their own homes, freeing them from the drudgery of commuting and office politics. The Internet is seen as an integral part of the trend towards globalization and the diminishing significance of the concept of nation state.

For all its promise of bringing equality and liberation a number of hurdles remain before the information revolution may be considered as complete. The availability of information in such vast quantities leads to the problem of sifting that which is of relevance and value from that which is not. Issues such as security and privacy (both real and perceived) prevent many from adopting the 'net as their prime channel for conducting business. There are also huge differences in levels of access between different countries.