Virtual Times

This report tracks the changing dynamics driving the Information Society worldwide, with a new tool—the Digital Opportunity Index (DOI)—that evaluates the opportunity, infrastructure and utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for 180 economies worldwide. The Index monitors the mobile communications that promise to bridge the digital divide in many parts of the world, as well as more recent technologies such as broadband and mobile Internet access. The price of broadband continues to fall worldwide, by as much as twenty per cent a year over the last two years according to ITU’s analysis, while broadband speeds continue to increase. These trends are not restricted to developed countries, however, with broadband now commercially available in 166 countries worldwide. ITU, 2006.

World information Society Report 2006

The "long tail" concept, while becoming the most overused buzzword of the online industry, actually has a significant place in the traditional information industry. Because the inventory of information and electronic content is nearly limitless, the long tail has an even stronger significance. Information discovery and accessibility is the key to producing a long tail.To further the argument for improved information discovery, Katherine Mossman (Library Journal, July 2006) points out that in the long tail model librarians and libraries play a key role:

* Libraries act as almost limitless inventory collections

* Librarians act as search filters

* Collection management by librarians is a constant work in progress

* Statistics (usage) is a critical factor

* Institutions must be able to measure the ROI on content purchases and continue to make the right choices for their constituents

The global information marketplace is able to quickly reach a global audience (there are more than 65,000 publishers worldwide) and many still generate "hits" or "best sellers" which drive and subsidize the traditional publishing world, but this model is changing.

The Ongoing Struggle of Free vs. Fee