ABSTRACT
The notable changes in communication that occurred during the mid-twentieth century were the result of new technologies and concepts which were developed through a US government-sponsored collaborative research project to share defense-related information between industry, university researchers and government agencies.1 The project evolved into a global network and communication system that has become central to the activities of the globalized world of the twenty-first century. This new communications network reflects both the complex and innovative technology on which it is based, as well as the visionary inspiration that led to the development of this phenomenon. The networked world is both a product of this world and has an existence that transcends this world, and it is affecting how we see ourselves and our environment in dramatic ways. By connecting the global system and transforming the way in which we view time and space, the internet has revolutionized the way we think, communicate, do business, learn, and go about various human activities. The network-based communication system has had far reaching consequences for societies all over the world, reaching into the remotest areas hitherto difficult to access. The disparities present between societies have not entirely impacted access to this network, although serious issues remain regarding the advantages it provides for the developing world.
