FM1 New Definitions: Value, Community, Space

First Monday & International Institute of Infonomics

November 4-6, 2001
Heerlen/Maastricht

Conference report by Jan Bierhoff
Photographs: Herman Pijpers

Bernt Hugenholtz of the Amsterdam Institute of Information Law elaborated on copyright as a community good. In spite of its flaws, he argued in favour of present provisions, certainly in comparison with the alternative of digital rights management. DRM, a combination of mouse-click contracting and restrictive code, can be considered as oppressive and certainly not in the interest of the internet user. He spoke in favour of keeping a viable public domain, through legal limitations to contracts, forms of consumer protection and, if need be, 'the right to fair hacking'.   Bernt Hugenholtz (pictured left) and Rishab Ghosh
Paul Duguid The third concept to be discussed was 'space'. Paul Duguid of the Xerox Palo Alto Labs critically reviewed the idea of the new, virtual worker. No sign of it in the US labour statistics, he said, with part time work down, self employment stable at best and 10+ contracts up. Other research proves that the cubicle, the archetypical work space of the internet age, is rated the lowest of all investigated work environments. We are on the way up though, Duguid noted, with examples of recently designed libraries, which become social meeting places rather than paper repositories.
Richard Wiggins of Michigan State University presented an overview of failing technology predictions, including examples from recent ICT gurus. He pointed at the most likely innovation curve for internet, from definition of potential to a hyped start, followed by scattered illusions to a more gradual, down to earth implementation path.   Richard Wiggins We are about to enter that last phase, in his view. Wiggins spoke in favour of small-scale test markets, and against wild nationwide implementation of new devises.
Richard Rogers Richerd Rogers of the University of Amsterdam presented current research on the internet as an electronic agora, where debates take place that influence, if not shape our opinions. He demonstrated two instruments for measuring the information society. First an 'issue barometer', gauging the 'social pressure' of a contemporary theme, by monitoring various web-datastreams. A related product is the web issue index, on the occasion illustrated with references to issue making sources about the anti globalisation movement between Seattle and Genova.
Andreas Harsono Andreas Harsono of the Indonesian Institute of Freeflow of Information explored 'space' via an analysis of worldwide email traffic, spreading rumours with incredible speed over the continents, with huge implications. He especially described the false information circulating around the recent New York twin tower attack, and the uncritical use of these internet-based allegations in the established news media. This way, modern ICT will certainly not bring us together, was his assessment.
Christine Maxwell of the Internet Societal Task Force shed a different light on the global deployment of internet. Mainly through the introduction of the new IPv6 protocol, she hopes for a better position for the developing countries (additional IP addresses) and a higher profile presence of these regions in the emerging information society: 'all individuals will in fact profit from this technological advance, via improved performance levels and personalisation options'.     Christine Maxwell (pictured left) and Andreas Harsono
These conference impressions will be completed with hyperlinks to the full text of all presentations. An integral report including audio tracks and video will soon be available via the First Monday website.
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