Many challenges lie ahead in the development of a global information society. Culture and democracy are two areas which may be under particular threat. The book reflects on today's complex and uncertain cultural and democratic developments arising as a result of an increasingly global, technologically-connected world. In particular it focuses on the Internet, examining new metaphors for communication, defining the issues at stake and proposing options, actions and solutions. Among the issues discussed were: multi-cultural developments; cultural sensitivities and the involvement of cultural minorities; generation gaps; gender issues; technology access for the elderly and the disabled; technology transfer.

Zusammenfassung
The book reflects on today's complex and uncertain cultural and democratic developments arising as a result of an increasingly global, technologically-connected world. In particular it focuses on the Internet, examining new metaphors for communication, defining the issues at stake and proposing options, actions and solutions.

Inhalt
Culture and democracy revisited in the global information society: Summary of a position paper.- Ethics.- A charter for citizens of the global information society.- Information technology and ethics.- Much Ado about Nothing: The Internet Dream.- An analysis of ethical awareness related to computers and information technology of people in the Bangkok metropolis.- Global Information Society.- The global information society: Some reflections on labour and work.- Global digital commerce: Impacts and risks for developments of global information societies.- Going to the future.- Moving towards the millennium: Will information technology take democracy into the 21st century?.- Information assets as a platform for economic growth.- Technology, economic development, and sustainability: The case of Latin America.- Cultural Challenges.- Information society and Greek society: Socio-cultural and political incompatibilities.- Just-in-time open and distant training offers must match market and learners requirements.- What does it mean to be 'virtual'?.- Information technology for persons with a disability: A vision for the International Federation for Information Processing.- Gardening: A metaphor for sustainability in information technology-technical support.- Information society and civil society: Non-governmental organizations and computer-mediated communication in Latin America.- Culture and communication The interplay in the new public commons: Usenet and community networks.- On cultures and information technology applications in organizations.- The role of Ukrainian universities in the development of the global information society.- Democratic Challenges.- Ethical and social issues of 'teleservices' for disabled and elderly people.- The global information society andthe implications of self-organization.- Information highways: A threat to democracy?.- Privacy at risk in the global information society.- The politics of privacy on the global information highway.- Growing old in an information society.- The Concept of the Agora.- The Internet: A new agora?.- DEMOS: Democratic evaluation of multiple options in society.- Historical and topographical amnesia on the information highway: Metaphors and tacit knowledge.- The role of the Internet both as an ancient agora and a French café for the humanities.- A self-regulated Internet community.- Recommendations.- Recommendations: From sand, through silver, to gold plates.