Not since Gutenburg invented the printing press in the 1450s has the world experienced such a defining shift in how people communicate with one another. The first book to ever be printed was the Bible in Latin, and now 6 centuries later we can all be engaged in a never ending worldwide conversation via email, Twitter, blogging, and a host of other new media tools and so-called “social networks” such as Facebook and LinkedIn. But this huge ‘Global Digital Revolution’ has called into question the future of the print media, and will change the way public services are delivered and how all our democracies work. We report on a special CRASSH symposium (Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) held at Cambridge Judge Business School to discuss these hot topics.
Change is on the cards as government moves towards a more open society and hands power digitally to the people, says Lord Wilson of Dinton, Master of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.