Electronic Commerce: Net Benefit for Australia?
With the convergence of digital technologies, combining computers, telecommunications, publishing, TV and radio, the "information industries" are emerging to dominate the world economy. How has electronic commerce affected the Australian economy? What of the future? What steps should Australian companies and government take to position Australian for an information economy future? What newly emerging technologies will become important?
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.
IO'98 was convened by the Canberra Branch of the Australian Computer Society (ACS). The ACS is one of Australia's leading professional bodies and research publishers. For thirty years the Australian computer society has conducted local, national and international conferences on technical and social aspects of Information Technology.
In 1995 the ACS Canberra Branch conducted Multinet'95, a conference on the Internet and its possible implications. This conference heralded then little known technology of the World Wide Web. Speakers at the conference and the technology demonstrated have become the driving force in IT today. In 1996 the ACS hosted the 14th World Computer Congress in Canberra. In 1997 the ACS Canberra Branch looked at IT outsourcing issues in its annual conference.
The Conference was held at the Manning Clark Center, Australian National University, Canberra. The Manning Clark Center was named after Emeritus Professor Charles Manning Hope Clark, AC and is the ANU's newest lecture facility incorporating 'smart' lecture theatres.
Papers were published on-line two weeks before the conference and with presentations, are available at: http://www.acs.org.au/president/1998/past/io98/
Delegates were encouraged to read the papers in advance and submit comments and questions to the authors to prepare their presentations. Paper copies of proceedings are available by mail order: $30 ($20 for ACS Members) plus $5 postage (as at November 1998).
The Australian Computer Society was established in 1966 and is the recognized association for IT professionals in Australia; attracting a large and active membership from all levels of the IT industry, providing a wide range of services and opportunities for networking and career enhancement. It has become the public voice of the IT professional; the guardian of professional ethics and standards in IT; with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of IT.
Australian Computer Society
Canberra Branch
1998 Information Industry Outlook Conference
PO Box 686, Dickson ACT 2602
Tel: (02) 6247 4830
Fax: (02) 6249 6419
E-mail: mmorgan@acslink.net.au
http://www.acs.org.au/president/1998/past/io98/
Apart from any use as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Publications Manager, Australian Computer Society, PO Box Q534, Queen Victoria Building, SYDNEY NSW 1230, Australia. Email: info@acs.org.au http://www.acs.org.au
Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Electronic Commerce: Net Benefit for Australia? - The Proceedings of the 1998 Information Industry Outlook Conference hosted by the Australian Computer Society - Canberra Branch, Canberra, Australia, 7 November 1998
ISBN 0 909925 72 0
Edited by Tom Worthington
Printed in Australia