IRMA 102:

Introduction to
Information Science
Okoro Obinna Jeremiah
Information Resources Management Department
08160510169
obi4uk@yahoo.com
Office: Information Resources Centre…(BBS)
 THE
INFORMATION
SOCIETY
 Intro….
• Information is critical and vital in
every society.

• It has become a critical resource

needed for the survival of any
given society.
 Information is dominating 
• In countries of many different kinds
information now plays an increasingly
important part in economic, social,
cultural and political life.

• This phenomenon is taking place

regardless of a country’s size, state of
development or political philosophy.
Evolution of the Information Age/Society

• Agricultural Age:
–The period up to the 1800s,
when the majority of
workers were farmers whose
lives revolved around
agriculture.
• Industrial Age:
–The period from the 1800s
to 1957, when work
processes were simplified
through mechanization and
automation.
 …Information Age…
• Information Age:
– The period that began in 1957, in
which the majority of workers are
involved in the creation, distribution,
and application of information.
• Knowledge Workers: Workers
involved in the creation,
distribution, and application of
information.
 Definition
• Martin (1995)
“Information Society is a society
characterized by rapid growth and use of
information, widespread exploitation of
varied information sources; a society
where people know and appreciate what
information they need, where to get it,
how to get the information, and in the
end, how to use it.”
 Definition…
• A new type of society, where the
possession of information (and not
material wealth) is the driving force
behind its transformation and
development […] (and where)
human intellectual creativity
flourishes. (Yoneji Masuda)
• “A new type of society in which
humanity has the opportunity to lead a
new way of life, to have a higher
standard of living, accomplish better
work, and to play a better role in society
thanks to the global use of information
and telecommunication technologies.”
(Béla Murányi)
 Definition by Webster (2002)
• It is possible to identify 5 ways of distinguishing
an information society.

• Technological (technological innovation and

diffusion);
• Economic (economic value);
• Occupational (occupational change | knowledge
worker);
• Spatial (space | information flows);
• Cultural (the expansion of symbols and signs).
3 Main Characteristics of Information Societies
• First, information is used as an
economic resource.
– Organizations are using information to:
• increase their efficiency,
• stimulate innovation, and
• increase their effectiveness and
competitive position.
 2 characteristic…
nd

• Secondly, it is possible to identify greater use

of information among the general public.
– People use information more intensively in their
activities as consumers:
• to inform their choices between different
products,
• to explore their entitlements to public services,
• exercise their civil rights and responsibilities, and
• to take greater control over their own lives.
 3 characteristic…
rd

• The third characteristic of

information societies is the
development of an information
sector within the economy.
– The function of the information sector
is to satisfy the general demand for
information facilities and services.