Information Society

We’re going to look at how information societies are different

from other types of societies.

Alvin Toffler’s The Third Wave

• Toffler identified three “waves” of change, that created 3 types of civilization

1st Wavehunter-gather to agricultural

Characteristics diff. between these societies?

2nd WaveAgricultural to Industrial

Characteristics diff. between these societies?

Characteristics of Agrarian Societies

• Almost all work done at home + fields• Local control (nobles/warlords) – not national• Education at home, from family, job related• Most production for people’s own use

(consume what they produce)• Very little production for trade / market

Characteristics of Industrial Societies

• Most work outside home (factories, offices)• Centralized population (urbanization)• Centralized energy needs (to power cities,

factories)• Large power plants; non-renewable energy

Characteristics of Industrial Societies

• Mass media; same message to all; radio, tv, national newspapers

• Standardized education, products, media, etc• Education away from family in “Factory-style”

schools; same ed. for everyone, basic literacy skills, punctuality, obedience to prep. for factory work

Characteristics of Industrial Societies

• Nation-state as KEY level of control:• Sovereignty- – nation controls all below– None above nation can control it

• Producing material goods (chairs, cars, books, appliances, etc. etc.) Mainly for MARKET

Group Discussion:

Can you see any ways we are changing from industrial societies?

Are there ways we are becoming different from the industrial

lifestyle of economy?

Share with the class!

Material Goods vs. Information Goods

• Material goods: physical products for people to buy and use. Produced, moved to where people need them.

• E.g. cars, computers, phones, desks, building materials, books, etc.

Material Goods vs. Information Goods

• Information goods: economic worth in information and info. processing, ideas, knowledge,

• Scientific data, stories, movies, songs, statistics, computer programs etc.

• (now often digital and digitally delivered)

Characteristics of Information Societies

• Much more information production than before. Manufacturing of material goods less important.

• More work from home; more in future? (oil vs. electricity costs)

• Decentralized power needs (less power, spread out more; Solar? Wind?)

Characteristics of Information Societies

• Less standardization – custom products, changes in education and mass media

• Attack on power of Nation-State– From below: local diff., separatist movements,

more local autonomy (e.g. Nunavut)– From above: United Nations, European Union,

Transnational Corporations, WTO, + so many more

Characteristics of Information Societies

• Huge changes in communication abilities:• The computer + internet, cellular

technologies, satellite communication,

• Twitter + Facebook democracy movements in the Middle East. (China’s control)

Characteristics of Information Societies

• Maybe more real democracy- change from periodic elections more direct involvement of people (e.g. internet voting)

Q: How might education change to better fit with the information

based societies?

Q: Which type of society do you think is best? Why?

• Agricultural, • Industrial, • Informational?