IOSPress

The Global Networking'97 is published in two volumes . Attaining the full positive impact of global networking will depend not only on technological developments, but also on policy initiatives which foster interconnection, full interoperability and quality human interfaces. Interconnecting networks, either physically or virtually, is the key first step. As these networks circle the globe and become 'networks of networks', they hold the potential to fundamentally transform economic, political and social institutions. As such, the book examine global networking and convergence from four perspectives: technology, economics, policy and social applications.