Digital Decision Making Back to the Future [Paperback]

Since the mid 1990s, when the general public began using the Internet, governments and commerce have made vast investments in digital communications technology. There has been confusion and sometimes controversy over these, for example the proposed UK identity card system. The far-reaching commercial and social implications of decisions made in invisible or opaque specialist fields should concern every citizen. This book argues that decisions should be based on an understanding of the systems, technology and environment within which they operate; that experts and ordinary people should work together; and that technology and law are evolving in restrictive rather than enabling ways.

Since the mid-1990s, governments and commerce have made vast investments in digital communications technology, accompanied by confusion and sometimes controversy. This book argues that everyone should be concerned with the commercial and social implications of decisions made in opaque specialist fields.

Since the general public began to use the Internet in the mid 1990s, there has been a vast amount of investment by governments and commerce in digital communications technologies. There has also been a fair degree of confusion and sometimes controversy about the purpose and effectiveness of such technologies, for example the proposed UK identity card system.

The far-reaching implications for commerce and society of some of these decisions in invisible or opaque specialist fields, however, mean they should be matters of concern for every citizen. This book argues: Decisions should be based on an understanding of the systems, technology and environment within which they operate. Experts and ordinary people should work together. Technology and law are evolving in restrictive rather than enabling ways.

It aims, to stimulate an awareness of the issues and be a readable, challenging and informative introduction, bolã'