Information Technology and Democratic Governance

Abstract

Knowledge has always implied power and, unquestionably, modern information technology has made possible the extensive ingathering organization and use of its basic ingredient: information. Clearly, advances in telecommunications technology permitted the rapid collection and transmission of information; mass memory devices, coupled with computer hardware and ancillary programming techniques, have made feasible the storage, manipulation, and recall of vast information resources. Thus, the transistor and printed circuit have revolutionized not only the basic element of information technology, the computer, but also, through radio, television, telephone and satellite transmission devices, made possible for millions of individuals fast and flexible access to sources of information. A number of other electronic and optical devices permitted remote monitoring, scanning, and related information-gathering and recording activities.