Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter Overview
Paradigms are derived from a society. As described in Chapter 2, a paradigm is a
set of fundamental beliefs or assumptions that provide a worldview: the way that we
perceive the world and how it works. A paradigm is the soul of the information in-
frastructure. The information transfer processes described in Chapter 4 remain the
same even as the paradigm changes, because the information transfer processes
are the structure, but the way the processes operate may change.
As outlined in Chapter 3, the emerging paradigm is influenced by societal
changes, and the changes, along with advancements in technology, have produced
a variety of new methods for recording, mass-producing, and disseminating inform-
ation. Here are characteristics of the emerging paradigm as they influence informa-
tion transfer:
•
Lines of authority are unclear.
•
Technology has enabled individuals to circumvent hierarchical structures,
providing much freedom of expression.
•
With the advancement of technology and the application of digitization, visu-
al information can be three-dimensional, opening new avenues for express-
ing ideas.
•
The world is complex, and solutions are likewise complex; furthermore,
many problems have no definite solutions, and “facts” change as new discov-
eries reveal new insights.
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