IRMA 102: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SCIENCE INFORMATION INDUSTRY/SECTOR

Introduction The world is today said to be an “Information Society” OR in other quarters a “Global Information Economy”. A defining characteristic of an information society is an emerging or developing information industry. The general idea of an “Information economy” includes: The notion of industries primarily producing, processing, and distributing information. The idea that every industry is using available information and information technology to reorganize and make themselves more productive.

Information Sector (Processes) The Information sector comprises units engaged in the following processes: The creation of information (content sector) Producing and distributing information and cultural products The delivery of the information Providing the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications Information Processing Processing data.

Components of the Information Sector The main components of this sector are: The publishing industries, including software publishing, The motion picture and sound recording industries, The broadcasting and telecommunications industries, The information services and data processing industries. Thus activities included in this sector cut across traditionally defined areas in the economy, such as manufacturing (traditional publishing), communications (broadcasting), amusement/entertainment (motion picture production) and some service areas.

Publishing Industries Publishing of books, brochures and other publications, Publishing of newspapers, journals and periodicals Other publishing Software publishing

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries Publishing of music Motion picture and video production and distribution Motion picture projection

Broadcasting Radio and television activities

Internet Publishing, Broadcasting and Telecommunications Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals and Data Processing Services; Data base activities and on-line distribution of electronic content.

Other Information Services News agency activities; Library and archives activities.

Unique Characteristics of Information & Cultural Products The processes involved in their production and distribution, distinguish the information sector from the goods-producing and service-producing sectors. They do not necessarily have tangible qualities, nor is it associated with a particular form. (e.g. Online Newspaper OR on-line television program). A movie shown at a movie theatre. A Television broadcast, through video-on-demand or rented at a local store. A sound recording can be aired on radio, embedded in multimedia products, or sold at a record store.

...characteristics The delivery of these products does not require direct contact between the supplier and the consumer. The value of these products to the consumer lies in their informational, educational, cultural, or entertainment content, not in the format in which they are distributed. Most of these products are protected from unlawful reproduction by copyright laws.