Centralization or decentralization of technology information: future cooperation or competition

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Technol. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-791X(82)90022-7· OSTI ID:6660299

Rivera, E

Although advocates of decentralization cite the values of individual privacy, human dimensions, and potential for creativity and innovation, the advent of microcomputer technology during the past five years brought the first real reversal of the trend toward centralization. Both systems have their economic, social, and technical consequences. Centralization, for example, has the advantages of scale economy, coordination, and the control of lower-level activities to meet higher-level goals. At issue are the problems of sharing and data distribution. A hybridism of systems will take place in the next five years along with a conversion to smaller, more-flexible and personal systems as microprocessors come down in price. Application will determine the extent of centralization for each system. The shift will affect education, international forums, the type of work conducted in the service sector, and life styles, and will introduce legal, political, and organizational problems. 7 references. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Fundacion Barros Sierra, Mexico City, Mexico
• OSTI ID: 6660299
• Journal Information: Technol. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 4:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WORKING CONDITIONS
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
COMPETITION
COOPERATION
MICROPROCESSORS
COMPUTERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
290500* - Energy Planning & Policy- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
990300 - Information Handling