"Info-Eco: Information Ecology and Economics"
My current creative works have to do with better understanding of the
ecological economy of 'information' and of local-global progress and
development.
rl
-----------
Times New Roman0000,8080,0000Info/Eco
Economics/0000,8080,0000Information/0000,8080,0000Ecology
Times
Times New RomanWhat’s
the Matter? What’s the Difference? What’s the Use?
Times
Times
Times New RomanThe
dynamic radiative information environment, the flow of information,
and the sensory and communicative nature of information, have not been
included in most whole-systems ecological thinking and applications,
to date. It is a major error in human understanding that will have
troubling consequences, as we increasingly interact with and
manipulate this fragile ecosystem.
Ecology is the study of the complex relationships between living and
non-living, inter-dependent dynamic systems. It describes the fragile
balance in which such systems interact and by which they co-evolve.
Information Ecology extends our basic understanding of ecology to
include the physical, social and economic transformations being
wrought by the rapid developments in information technology, networked
learning, and by our becoming an increasingly networked “society of
mind”.
Information is not just data or bits. It is not simply a useful
natural resource; a commodity that can be sent and received, bought
and sold, and regulated. Information must also be considered as
patterns of perception, genetic expression, cognitive relationships
and differences. The flow of information determines the course of
social evolution. Decisions regarding spectrum allocation,
regulatory interventions, copyright, property, privacy, digital
divides, technology development or “new economies” cannot be
effective, if made without an ecological context.
Today’s Information Revolution, if it is primarily a technology
mediated revolution, will likely result in increased consumerism,
social systematization, bureaucracy, waste and war. The more
cumulatively energy consuming and less ecologically sustainable, the
more fragile technological progress will become; and ultimately more
disruptive in its potential (inevitable) failure.
Times
There is much to do to integrate matter, energy and information into a
whole systems ecology. Becoming a bit smarter about the way the world
works, may also be dangerous, coming into conflict with long dominant,
vested-interest belief systems and ideological fictions. Education,
thoughtful exchange, research, creative practice and respect for
differences are needed. There is no solution, however. We can only
begin to take small “steps towards an ecology of mind”.
Times---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Lowenberg
Times New RomanExec. Director,
TimesDavis Community Network
(DCN), 1623 5th St., Davis, CA 95616
Ph. 530-750-1170 / Fax 530-757-2938 rl@dcn.org
Times New Romanhttp://www.dcn.org/ Times
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home/Studio: 530-668-1100 rl@radlab.com
http://www.radlab.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If it is not Matter, it is Energy. If it Matters, it is
Information. If it does not Matter, it is Noise."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------