Report on the 1998 Information Industry Outlook Conference

Tom Worthington

Adviser Internet Policy, Department of Defence &
Immediate Past President ACS

Wednesday, November 18, 1998 (This text amended 19 November 1998)

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Repeated 7:30pm for ACS Members)

Room N101, CSIT Building [108], ANU

Disclaimer: the views expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of the Department of Defence or the ACS

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Contents

• Introduction
• Origin
• Call for papers
• Proceedings
• The Presentations
• Conclusion
• See also

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Introduction to IO'98

• Hosted by ACS Canberra Branch, Saturday, 7 November 1998 at ANU
• Conference proceedings published on-line and on paper
• Presentations by most of the speakers on-line
• Discussion of issues continuing on-line on Link

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Origin

"IO'98 has been launched as Australia's pre-eminent conference to lead the discussion on issues affecting the electronic commerce, information technology, computers, telecommunications, the Internet, web and digital broadcasting industries. Current policy debates and developments around the emergence of the "information economy" were explored."

• Inspired by DPIE's rural industry outlook conferences,
• Conceived by Peter Talty
• Hosted by the ACS Canberra Branch
• Intended to be supported nationally next year.

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Call for papers

• Issued 5 June 1998
• media release, on-line & ACM, IEEE and ISOC journals
• Proposals, papers & presentations by e-mail
• 8 of 13 papers chosen by on-line ranking and consultation
• 4 commercial sector (three lawyers), 2 academic & one politician
• Most on e-commerce & no industry statistics on the state of the information industry in Australia (one of the themes of the conference)

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Proceedings

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The Presentations

Three sections planned: Risk, Examples & Wider Issues. Preceeded by:

• Keynote Address, Mrs Kate Carnell MLA
• Stocktake of Australia's Information Industries

Key issues emerged during the event:

• will people trust e-commerce?
• will it be too complicated to use?
• is it about selling things?

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Presentations

• Addressing Risk in Electronic Commerce
  • Current issues in the roll-out of a National Authentication Framework
  • E-commerce - A matter of TRUST
  • What’s the Hold-up? Real Versus Perceived Risks in On-line Commerce
  • Getting the Balance Right
• Examples and Opportunities
  • Online Retail Commerce - A Case Study
  • Australia and the Information Economy: Trends and Issues
• Wider Issues
  • Monitoring the Effective Use of Online Services
  • Information Industry Development - with a Social conscience

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Closing address: Building Arcadia - Et in Arcadia ego

I argued:

The Roman writer Cicero termed what we would call the cultural landscape a second nature (alteram naturam). This was a landscape of bridges, roads, harbours, fields - in short, all the elements which men and women introduce into the physical world to make it more habitable, to make it serve their purposes. (Hunt 1992)

Build the mystique & reality of a high technology Arcadia, here in Australia

Economic development in IT comes from growth of local companies & technology transfer to multi-national companies

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Conclusion

• Conference was a success, in terms of content and debate fostered
• Not profitable*, as not technology enough for IT industry
• Internet worked well for organisation & presentation
• Outcomes:
  • Clear lack of research on Australian information industry
  • $250,000 from new DCITA would help
  • Bureau of Communications and IT Economics, would help
• Simpler systems for e-commerce are required: less technology, more assurance of customer trust.
• Senator Alston must direct NOIE to implement PKAF, or risk the failure of e-commerce in Australia

* NOTE: The version of this slide, as used 17 November said "Financial failure", however revised accounts for the conference now show a $109 surplus, rather than the previous $2,000 loss. Tom Worthington, 19 November 1998

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Biography

Tom Worthington is Special Adviser for Internet/Intranet Policy, with the Australian Department of Defence and Immediate Past President of the Australian Computer Society. Information Age magazine listed Mr. Worthington as one of the 10 most influential IT&T people in Australia in 1998, citing his work on national IT policy. His work since 1994 has been on the policy and practice of implement of the Internet, including appearances before three Senate hearings.

• Summary of the Conference on 'Electronic Commerce: Net Benefit for Australia, Roger Clarke
• IO 98, Marghanita da Cruz, Ramin Communications, Link Mailing List, Mon, 09 Nov 1998 07:30:13 +1100
• Conference Proceedings
• Chair's closing address: Building Arcadia- Emulating Cambridge's High Technology Industry Success in Australia
• Tom Worthington's Home Page
• ACS Home Page

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