Technology and its impact on the information environment and society in developing countries

In the last issue of the pakistan journal of library & information science,john richardson (2011) wrote a very eloquent editorial piece about the role information technology plays in the dynamic changes to the field of library and information science. in view of the fact that so much of what happens in today's information environment (from the creation/generation of information in all its forms to its dissemination and use) is mainly technology driven,i thought it worthwhile to focus,once again,on technology and its impact on the information professions,information environment,and society as a whole vis-à-vis developing countries. although the user should be the central focus of any information environment,users' information seeking and use behaviors as well as the generation/creation of information and culture by authors,artists,musicians,etc.,are influenced by,for the most part,the technology available and/or accessible to them. significant events and revolutions in the history of information,from cave paintings to digital information,were a result of innovations in information technologies such as ink,papyrus,mechanical movable type,telephones,computers,and the internet. of course these innovations had impacts beyond the confines of the information environment,some more so than others,but i will limit my piece to their impact on the information environment and society in developing countries. an information environment,for the purpose of this piece,is any entity or system that contains people,information sources,and technology and where these three interact to create process,manage,disseminate,and use information.