ABSTRACT
New information technology is being manufactured in Western countries by many companies, including some of the largest in the world. But who is buying and using the technology? What do they actually buy and is it what they want? For example, as far as domestic consumers are concerned, is there any strength in Weizenbaum’s assertion that there is as yet no reason to believe in any substantial demand for home computer power other than from people who already use computers as professional tools? The authors ask these questions in relation to several markets or sectors of human activity: the military, commerce, industry, agriculture, government organisations (excluding education), and domestic consumers. These six sectors clearly do not include every application of new information technology. For instance, the leisure sector, especially sport, is rapidly increasing its purchases of the technology, and so is the medical sector.
