What evidence exists to support this idea of a significant step change in the development and social, economic and political diffusion of ICTs? This symposium seeks to take forward this debate by a critical analysis of key issues.

Powerful new convergences of digital technologies together with rising adoption of information and communications technologies (ICTs) into everyday commercial, political and social life has led to pronouncements of a second generation of information society development. But what evidence exists to support this idea of a significant step change in the development and social, economic and political diffusion of ICTs?

This symposium seeks to take forward this debate by critically analysing key issues emerging from new inter-relationships between information, communication and society. It aims to:

  • Explore the robustness of claims about the transformative effects and potential of information and communication technologies

  • Identify and discuss the methodologies that could be used to test such claims

  • Assess the current state of empirical research and highlight important gaps for future research

  • Provide an international forum for the exchange of ideas, data and analysis

Symposium themes

The symposium is multidisciplinary and original papers are sought from researchers in all relevant subject areas. Papers submitted should address at least one of the seven broad areas around which the proceedings will be organised: e-health; spatial informatics; e-commerce & economics; young and older generations; privacy, trust and surveillance; e-governance; and, policy issues cutting across all these themes.

Submission of papers

The deadline for proposals has now passed.

Further information

Official Conference Website

This conference is hosted by the Department of Sociology at York. It is held in association with the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), ICS Journal (Taylor & Francis) and the ESRC E-Society research programme.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)