Inside the Communication Revolution: Evolving Patterns of Social and Technical Interaction

Jeffrey Moon is head of the Documents Reference/Data Centre at Queen’s
University.

Inside the Communication Revolution looks at how technology—in
particular, communication technology—has insinuated its way into our
everyday lives. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1, Mediating
Social and Technical Relationships, uses a variety of empirical methods;
contributing authors approach this topic from many directions. For
example, in Chapter 3, David Niece uses an updated version of focused
interviewing to investigate a wide range of technological/societal
metaphors. Selected transcripts included in the chapter highlight the
value of this methodology; the respondents are candid, insightful, and
direct. Niece does a nice job of tying the various threads of this
investigation together.

Part 2, Building Capabilities for Knowledge Exchange, employs
examples—such as the sharing of credit approval and geospatial
data—in its discussion. The chapter “The Distribution of Spatial
Data” was of particular interest, given its emphasis on national
spatial data infrastructures. Among other things, the author identifies
the technical and interpersonal capabilities that form likely
determinants of data-sharing behavior. Canadian readers should take
note, given that our academic sector is in the midst of an explosion of
geospatial data consortia (both governmental and private sector).

The book is written from an international perspective, but with a
definite U.K. focus. For North American readers, this is actually a
plus. We are treated to an outsider’s view of how North American
dominance of the Internet influences interactions with technology in
different countries and cultures. The contributors make limited but
effective use of diagrams and charts to illustrate their points.
Chapters are richly cited, with references cumulated into one alphabetic
27-page list for all chapters. The book is academic in tone, but uses
specific examples from a range of industries, including newspapers,
insurance, and banking, to ground the largely theoretical subject matter
in practical terms.