This volume presents the papers and summarizes the discussions of a workshop held in Goa, India, in January 2004, organized by the Indian National Institute of Advanced Science (NIAS) and the U.S. Committee on International Security and Arms Control (CISAC). During the workshop, Indian and U.S. experts examined the terrorist threat faced in both countries and elsewhere in the world, and explored opportunities for the U.S. and India to work together. Bringing together scientists and experts with common scientific and technical backgrounds from different cultures provided a unique opportunity to explore possible means of preventing or mitigating future terrorist attacks.

Computers, communications, digital information, softwareâ€"the constituents of the information ageâ€"are everywhere. Being computer literate, that is technically competent in two or three of today's software applications, is not enough anymore. Individuals who want to realize the potential value of information technology (IT) in their everyday lives need to be computer fluentâ€"able to use IT effectively today and to adapt to changes tomorrow. Being Fluent with Information Technology sets the standard for what everyone should know about IT in order to use it effectively now and in the future. It explores three kinds of knowledgeâ€"intellectual capabilities, foundational concepts, and skillsâ€"that are essential for fluency with IT. The book presents detailed descriptions and examples of current skills and timeless concepts and capabilities, which will be useful to individuals who use IT and to the instructors who teach them.

Understanding the key IT issues facing firms within their surrounding contexts is critical for the firm, government, and their international counterparts.In response to the dominant and pervasive bias in Information Systems (IS) research towards American and Western views, the World IT Project was launched and is the largest study of its kind in the field. This book captures the organizational, technological, and individual issues of IT employees across 37 countries.The book enables management and staff to formulate business and IT-related policies and strategies. Likewise, it allows policymakers, governments and vendors to address important issues at the national level as well as to respond to the needs of partners and stakeholders in other countries. It also offers current and future academic scholars a grounded understanding of the international IT environment and provides a sound foundation to launch many international IT studies.

Professional IT practitioners need not only the appropriate technical skills, but also a broad understanding of the context in which they operate. This book provides a unique introduction to: social, legal, financial, organizational and ethical issues in the context of the IT industry; the role of professional codes of conduct and ethics; and key legislation. It is designed to accompany the BCS Professional Examination Core Diploma Module: Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice.

“More than anything else technology creates our world. It creates our wealth, our economy, our very way of being,” says W. Brian Arthur. Yet despite technology’s irrefutable importance in our daily lives, until now its major questions have gone unanswered. Where do new technologies come from? What constitutes innovation, and how is it achieved? Does technology, like biological life, evolve? In this groundbreaking work, pioneering technology thinker and economist W. Brian Arthur answers these questions and more, setting forth a boldly original way of thinking about technology. The Nature of Technology is an elegant and powerful theory of technology’s origins and evolution. Achieving for the development of technology what Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions did for scientific progress, Arthur explains how transformative new technologies arise and how innovation really works. Drawing on a wealth of examples, from historical inventions to the high-tech wonders of today, Arthur takes us on a mind-opening journey that will change the way we think about technology and how it structures our lives. The Nature of Technology is a classic for our times.

Changing business environments and information technology advancements fundamentally reshaped the traditional information landscape in our contemporary society, urging companies to seek innovative ways to diffuse and manage assets on a global scale. It is crucial for society to understand the new methodologies and common practices that organizations can utilize to leverage their knowledge into practice. Global Information Diffusion and Management in Contemporary Society is an essential reference source featuring research on the development and implementation of contemporary global information management initiatives in organizations. Including coverage on a multitude of topics such as data security, global manufacturing, and information governance, this book explores the importance of information management in a global context. This book is ideally designed for managers, information systems specialists, professionals, researchers, and administrators seeking current research on the theories and applications of global information management.

"This book provides a source for definitions, antecedents, and consequences of social informatics and the cultural aspect of technology. It addresses cultural/societal issues in social informatics technology and society, the Digital Divide, government and technology law, information security and privacy, cyber ethics, technology ethics, and the future of social informatics and technology"--Provided by publisher.

Since Galileo corresponded with Kepler, the community of scientists has become increasingly international. A DNA sequence is as significant to a researcher in Novosibirsk as it is to one in Pasadena. And with the advent of electronic communications technology, these experts can share information within minutes. What are the consequences when more bits of scientific data cross more national borders and do it more swiftly than ever before? Bits of Power assesses the state of international exchange of data in the natural sciences, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. The committee makes recommendations about access to scientific data derived from public funding. The volume examines: Trends in the electronic transfer and management of scientific data. Pressure toward commercialization of scientific data, including the economic aspects of government dissemination of the data. The implications of proposed changes to intellectual property laws and the role of scientists in shaping legislative and legal solutions. Improving access to scientific data by and from the developing world. Bits of Power explores how these issues have been addressed in the European Community and includes examples of successful data transfer activities in the natural sciences. The book will be of interest to scientists and scientific data managers, as well as intellectual property rights attorneys, legislators, government agencies, and international organizations concerned about the electronic flow of scientific data.

As the field of information technology continues to grow and expand, it impacts more and more organizations worldwide. The leaders within these organizations are challenged on a continuous basis to develop and implement programs that successfully apply information technology applications. This is a collection of unique perspectives on the issues surrounding IT in organizations and the ways in which these issues are addressed. This valuable book is a compilation of the latest research in the area of IT utilization and management.