Synopsis
In the worldwide globalization process, the new information and communication revolution offers multifaceted opportunities to countries, to societies and to people, if they are able to grab them. Human creativity, knowledge, productivity, innovation, skills, capacities and capabilities are becoming essential prerequisites to success. Governments that encourage investments in people, in education, in research and development and in life-long learning and training are taking the most advantage of the globalization process. It is becoming well-recognized that people should be placed at the center of all concerns. In other words, the new information revolution needs to be humanized if one wants to prevent a new divide-namely the digital divide. During the 21st century the yardistick used for the measurement of a country's development level will be the computer-literacy rate and no longer the adult-literacy ratio. The subject of this book is this new reality.