Describes opportunities and limitations inherent in office technology advances, focusing on media conversions and equipment compatibility. Differing needs of convenience users and dedicated users, document preparers, and archivists are enumerated. Systems emerging for use within organizations are compared to systems for use in communication…

Reviews selected effects of information technology development on the Third World, suggesting that more positive effects lie in social and cultural realms, while economic aspects favor industrialized countries. Social and cultural impacts of information technology are discussed and effect of changing technology on national information policies is…

Examines published and unpublished writings of Vannevar Bush to better determine why he created the memex and what he hoped to accomplish with such a machine. The discussion covers the extent to which hypertext and modern technology have fulfilled Bush's predictions. (24 references) (CLB)

Discusses organization design as context for office automation; mature computer-based systems as one application of organization design variables; and emerging office automation systems (organizational information management, personal information management) as another application of these variables. Management information systems models and…

Introduces five articles on digital libraries by reviewing related legislation, information networking improvements, efforts to plan a virtual national digital library, and key challenges. The articles are briefly described, and short biographies of the authors are provided. (Contains 10 references.) (KRN)

Considers the relevance for sub-Saharan Africa of electronic information systems in terms of the segments of the population that would benefit from such services, as opposed to a broader library role of advancing literacy to the general population. (Author/CLB)

Summarizes the growth of databases, including major milestones, issues, and trends of the past 20 years, during which time the database/online industry had become a large and thriving segment of the information industry. A time line overview of database developments from 1951 to 1985 is appended. (42 references) (EJS)