From information highways to songlines of the noosphere: Global configuration of hypertext pathways as a prerequisite For meaningful collective transformation

摘要

As a means of understanding and explaining the significance of the emerging information society, metaphor is currently highly favoured in many different contexts. It is one theme of a study by Mark Stefik: Internet Dreams: Archetypes, Myths and Metaphors. Infor- Mation 'highway' seems to be preferred by Those concerned with the development of the Telecommunications infrastructure. The most Conceptually revolutionary feature of the Inter- Net is described as a world wide 'web'. Users Are inclined to describe themselves as 'surfing' The net, or possibly 'cruising' the information Highway.