ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a baseline overview of the status and trends in electronic communications and reviews technological improvements in data transmission and message switching. It describes developments in transmission and reduction of the large amounts of data generated in geophysical exploration for energy resources. Geographically-dispersed individuals can interact via computer terminals and communication links; each person enters material and/or comments into the computer store and retrieves others' comments and material as convenient. Computers provide access to large data bases of specialized and general information for researchers and legislators, law-enforcement officials and laboratory scientists, students and administrators alike. But computers alone can be isolated; electronic communications capabilities make a vast difference. There is potential for abuse in the ever-increasing use of computers coupled with electronic communications - privacy can be invaded, for example.
