BKSOLFIN.RVW   20000222

"The Social Life of Information", John Seely Brown/Paul Duguid, 2000,
0-87584-762-5, U$25.95
%A   John Seely Brown jsb@parc.xerox.com
%A   Paul Duguid duguid@socrates.berkeley.edu
%C   60 Harvard Way, Boston MA   02163
%D   2000
%G   0-87584-762-5
%I   Harvard Business School Press
%O   U$25.95 800-545-7685 fax: 617-496-8066 www.hbsp.harvard.edu
%P   320 p.
%T   "The Social Life of Information"

The book is not very clear about the social life of information, or
why we should care about it.  For example, the introduction notes that
digital communications removes clues that we would ordinarily receive
in a conversation, conveyed through body language.  It also asserts
that there are a number of people involved in the infrastructure
behind accessing a piece of printed information, such as publishers
and librarians.  The irony of these statements seems to be lost: books
hide body language just as effectively as email, and the Internet is
the product of a number of communities of people, the cultures of whom
are apparent to those who choose to examine the net closely.

Chapter one examines the information glut, as well as touching on the
fact that knowledge may lose its value as it is atomized into mere
data.  However, it is difficult to find any central theme, other than
a reaction against some of the more facile assertions that are being
made about the information age.  Agent technology and other forms of
low level artificial intelligence are noted to be imperfect, in
chapter two.  Starting with telecommuting, chapter three looks at
other aspects of computers and work.  Chapter four discusses the
failure of business process re-engineering and the triumph of informal
practices of work and socialization.  (I can fully agree with the
comments on the business-term-du-jour.)  Social factors involved in
knowledge and learning are addressed in chapter five.  A "seed in good
soil" model of technical development structures the presentation of
knowledge ecologies in chapter six.  Chapter seven seems to feel that
there is some inherent validation of printed knowledge, but I can
certainly attest to the fact that a lot of books are a waste of good
pulp.  Chapter eight finishes off with a look at higher education, and
also provides the only solid suggestion of the work--the "distributed"
college, with separation of the various functions.

The book makes one important point; that trying to remove information
from its social context is fraught with peril.  The text is readable,
and the material is erudite and even, at times, insightful. 
Unfortunately, this single message, and a bit of tutting at those
leaping into digital waters without looking, doesn't seem to be able
to carry interest in the volume all the way through.  The content is
neither new, nor presented in any novel way.  Questions or intents are
not very clear, nor strongly pursued.  The result is probably worth
reading as a reminder not to get too caught up in the techno-hype, but
is not earth-shaking.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKSOLFIN.RVW   20000222