Information technologies in the postindustrial society

New IT technologies, and in particular the Internet have become at present an alternative media channel. The emergence of new technologies changes the forms of communication. Computer networks exert impact on the development of the public domain in which the debate between citizens and authorities. A new international public sphere arises, and thanks to the Internet, the discussion concerning various problems takes place independently of time and space, but above all it crosses national borders. Computer data basis provide better access to reliable information. Yet unequal access to information triggers new factors dividing societies into those which are better or worse informed or those who can take advantage of information thanks to education or technology skills. Hence the following question arises: how to meet the requirements of the development of the global IT society? New solutions concerning hardware, software and telecommunications combining a great number of subjects ranging individual users, through local communities, universities, enterprises, governmental agencies to international corporations into one global network. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.