Eigenverlag/Self

Abstract:
The study Cyberscience analysed the impact of information and communication technologies in academia. In a first step, we collected data on the status quo. E-mail is used practically universal and online databases are spread very widely. While E-mail discussion lists are partly considered very important, Internet video-conferencing is, so far, the rare exception. Virtual research institute exist only to some extent, but there is a trend to more. Electronic journals, full text databases for digital working papers, as well as digital libraries are gaining ground. Altogether, we elaborated and compared 13 case studies of academic disciplines. Contrary to expectations, not only the natural sciences use increasingly these new technologies. Also several fields in the humanities, social sciences and cultural studies, such as parts of history and papyrology, are well advanced in this respect. In a second step, we analysed in-depth what kinds of impact the use of new media already has today, and which effects are to be expected in the future. In cyberscience, spatial distances (e.g. with regard to libraries) become less important. Peripheral research distant to the centres will be easier to some extent. In the field of academic publishing, in particular, important changes are looming. In academia, electronic publishing will replace print and paper in the not so distant future. New procedures of quality control are in the making and will complement the existing ones. New formats of knowledge representation (hypertext, multimedia) are likely to be seen soon next to the classical scientific article or book. In addition, the much cheaper electronic publishing opens up the opportunity that academia gets eventually rid of the financial burdens that are laid upon it by the present commercialised publishing system. As regards copyright law, there is urgent need for action in order to guarantee research the necessary access to all important information. Finally, the study found that, potentially, there will be even indirect impact on the substance of research. The electronic media trigger changes in methodologies, work modes and as regards the representation of knowledge. These changes may have an impact on knowledge production.