Module 5 Information Ecologies

Technology, information and communication are all interrelated and, within the context of the internet, technology is used to communicate information. The metaphor of the internet as an 'ecology' is but one of many ways that have been used to try and describe the intangible that is 'cyberspace'.

Analogies and metaphors provide an invaluable means for us, as internet users, to provide ourselves with a sense of meaning or understanding by assigning these comparisons to the internet. This in turn assists us to analize, comprehend and utilze the internet much more effectively. The questions posed to us in Module 5 can be answered much more easily when thinking of the internet in terms of say, an 'ecology'. Hence:

How might the metaphor of an ‘ecology’ impact on the way you think about, understand or use the Internet?

When I think of the internet as an 'ecology' I found James F. Moore's description of how executives should perceive themselves, as an apt analogy for how we also, as 'advanced internet users', can be thought of within the context of being part of the 'internet ecology':

"Executives need to think of themselves as part of organisms participating in an ecosystem in much the same way that biological organisms participate in a biological ecosystem."

Thinking of the internet in this way helps us to realise and can assist us in the knowledge that we are operating in a continually changing environment that requires an ongoing adaptive approach. We need to adapt our skills to the current internet environment and be prepared for expected future changes in a similar way to any other ecology or ecosystem. By being aware of the internets history, we can ascertain, to a certain extent, where the future of the internet may be heading, thus allowing us time to prepare and anticipate changes as they come along. Thinking of the internet as an ecosystem also helps us to be concious that the internet is not so much about operating as an individual but more so as part of a community of many participants cooperating together. Contributing to and taking from the internet in our various roles as internet users, from the viewpoint that though we are doing this as individulas, we are just but one of many parts that make up the whole and quite often, conciously or sub-conciously, our internet use can contribute and have an effect on the combined outcome in possible future directions that the internet may take.

How are the concepts ‘information’ and ‘communication’ understood within the framework of an ‘information ecology’?

The framework of information ecology, from a conceptual perspective of information and communication, puts an emphasis on people and how they create, distribute, understand and utilize information rather than the technology itself.

Why don’t we talk of a ‘communication ecology’?

Information ecology and communication ecology seem to be closely interrelated. Thus communication ecology, in my view, is more a part of the information ecology it communicates.

Reading Resources:

Moore,James F.. The Death of Competition: Leadership & Strategy in the Age of Business Ecosystems. Collins, May 21, 1997.


Web Resources:

Malhotra, Yogesh. "Information Ecology and Knowledge Management: Toward Knowledge Ecology for Hyperturbulent Organizational Environments." 2002.http://www.brint.org/KMEcology.pdf (accessed May 01, 2007).

"Info-Communication Concepts." http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_a/scripts/serve_home (accessed May 01, 2007).