From the Codification of Text to the Manipulation of Reality: A New Paradigm for Information Professionals

Johannes Britz’s presentation gave a concise and engaging overview of how human mean’s of organization and interpretation reality has changed with technology and what that means for the information profession.

In the past, writing, drawing, painting, or sculpting reality resulted in a subjective representation of reality. Then, with the invention of cameras, suddenly there was the ability to capture an objective image of reality. However, along with this invention and additional technologies, we now also have the ability to manipulate and create our reality.

Despite our knowledge that such manipulation is possible, we still tend to think that all photographs are “real” representations.

Today’s world is an unpackaged, dematerialized reality instead of an economics of things.

Unpackaged: Think about the difference between getting a paper airline ticket from a travel agent compared to going online, comparing flights, and then picking your seat based on the kind of plane you will be on.

The Scary Parts of the New Era:

• There are huge implications with the mass distribution of incorrect information, and how hard it can be to correct. The system is good at distributing information whether good or bad.
• This new paradigm is unlimited if you have an American address (both physical and IP) and credit card.
• Internet access for acquiring goods does not work without the infrastructure. If there are no roads for the FedEx truck, your Amazon.com order cannot be delivered.

What does this mean for information professionals?

• The information industry is the best able to adjust to the new reality, and can thrive because of online access.
• We are ready, prepared with background/skills, but not “fully dressed” in that we are not fully embracing the possibilities.
• Access to information is no longer through a thesaurus. Instead, it is about the unbundled presenting information.