The 1990's mark the beginning of a "Telecommunications Revolution". This can mean a quantum change in the information available to people and organizations. Although the transition will be slow for some, the development seems inevitable. Eventually, all of us will be affected and all of us will be dependant upon the new technology as a basic information resource. 

The explosive growth of information 

There has been a recent, explosive growth in the quantity of information that is accessible and useful for individuals and organizations. Text and data are routinely composed on computers. This information can now be organized to allow access through global networks in ways that were difficult or impossible in the past. The quality of information has also changed dramatically. And although new kinds of costs are incurred, the overall cost of information is going down. 

Links between people and organizations over universal networks 

Communication has also increased. Our social, political and management systems are becoming more sophisticated and dependant upon effective communication. Organizations rely upon a wider variety of supports and relationships. Complex organizations are entering into collaborative relationships requiring extensive communication. 

There is also greater recognition of the value of links with persons in other communities who share common experiences and challenges. 

The Telecommunications Revolution has led to a paradigm shift in the creation and distribution of information. In open access systems, everyone can search out and read available material from throughout a community and around the world. More importantly, everyone can contribute -- can comment, critique or create new material for others to read. 

Distributed processing: Linking personal computers back together 

Personal computers gave users more control over powerful tools for organizing and analyzing information. Decentralization was encouraged within organizations and communities -- as the means for working with information was more widely distributed.¹

But the personal computer was isolated from others. The process did not encourage building or sharing common bases of information. Networking computers together allows the creation of an information network without reducing local control over the tools to process and use information. 

An emerging "basic" computer - multi-media/ CD/ digital phone/ cable 

There is a common misperception that the hardware and software requirements of the information highway are many years away and likely to be too expensive for many. The basic "client" computer requirements are exceeded by most any basic home computer sold this year. Powerful multi-media computers with color graphics, substantial disk storage, "GUI" (graphics) software interfaces, communications cards and even CD players are now standard in $1500 systems. 

Most purchasers of home computer systems this year will be ready to access the Internet. Delays are more likely within financially strapped nonprofit organizations, who find that 1985 computer investments continue to serve the purposes for which they were purchased.²  As value is added to online systems, organizations will be forced to invest in new systems with the additional capacity. They will usually spend less for new computers than they did in the past. And they will also usually find a use for existing resources as they add new equipment. 

Many have argued that community wide access to the Internet will require ensuring that even very limited computer equipment will serve information access needs. Organizations retooling for graphics systems can pass older computers back to other organizations or to households who may otherwise have difficulty with even minimal costs. But a focus on a lowest common denominator standard for local systems will fail to realize the very real advantages of the more advanced technology of the "World Wide Web." 

A major source of delay until a convenient multi-faceted information system is realized will be the time required to put high speed communication channels in place.³  Digital phone and cable systems will soon offer inexpensive, very efficient and competitive choices in most communities. Until then, more limited modem connections seem adequate for general purposes. 

The time required to organize people and information and to adjust to the opportunities these systems will provide may prove to be the major limitation. Information networks are more about people and organizations than about technology.