TITLE: Information Overload (Chapter 20)

AMAZON LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233232091&sr=1-1

QUOTATION: People nowadays are logging in to the net not only to surf or browse but to donate or share a piece of information. According to Sohora Jha, journalists are using the web to conduct their research, getting information regarding interviewing sources and press releases, updating news online, and thus it shows the gradual shifts in attitudes because of the rapid increase in the Internet.

LEARNING EXPECTATIONS:

1. To know what is Information Overload.
2. To further understand what is Information.
3. To know what are the consequences of information overload.
4. To know what is A Novel, Recurrent, or Ever-Present Phenomenon.
5. To know the brief history of the phrase.

REACTION:

Recent research suggests that an “attention economy” of sorts will naturally emerge from information overload, allowing Internet users greater control over their online experience with particular regard to communication mediums such as e-mail and instant messaging. This could involve some sort of cost being attached to e-mail messages. For example, managers charging a small fee for every e-mail received – e.g. $5.00 – which the sender must pay from their budget. The aim of such charging is to force the sender to consider the necessity of the interruption.

According to Steve Beller, “I’m defining information overload as a state of having more information available that one can readily assimilate, that is, people have difficulty absorbing the information into their base of knowledge. This hinders decision-making and judgment by causing stress and cognitive impediments such as confusion, uncertainty and distraction” ^[

A symptom of the high-tech age is too much for one human being to absorb in an expanding world of people and technology. It comes from all sources including TV, newspapers, and magazines as well as wanted and unwanted regular e-mail and faxes. It has been exacerbated enormously because of the formidable number of results obtained from web search engines.”

On a society-wide level, the dangers of information overload are enormous. The engendered feelings of helplessness, confusion, and anger will erode work efficiency, family functioning, and most likely increase crime rates. We will lack the information-processing skills needed to elect responsible leaders or counter the myriad waves of propaganda pushing our dollars this way and that.

LESSON LEARNED:

-          Information overload: Exposure to or provision of too much information; a problematic situation or state of mental stress arising from this.

-          Information overload, is a condition in which an agent has-or is exposed to, or is provided with-too much information, and suffers negative consequences as a result

INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS:

1. What are the Contradictions and inaccuracies?
2. Is there available information?
3. How to find the low signal-to-noise ratio ?
4. Is there a lack of a method for comparing and processing?
5. What are the different kinds of information?