The threshold between online and offline will soon disappear…we shall become not cyborgs but rather inforgs, that is, connected informational organisms. (Floridi, 2007, p.1)
It was really interesting to read Floridi’s article, A Look into the Future Impact of ICT on our Lives because, while written in 2007, it paints a very real and relevant picture of the information society we all now inhabit. The tsunami of information we are creating and experiencing in this world, every second. From a climate change perspective, it is alarming to think of the global footprint all of this information is generating. The multitude of servers running continuously, enabling us to access any piece of information in a matter of seconds? What will be the ecological implications of all of this energy? Where do I morally sit with this? How should my behavior change as a result? Later in his article, Floridi does mention the constant need for energy as a limitation of this new world (Floridi, 2007, p.7).
After my initial response, I started to ponder how the information landscape is so enmeshed with my current, non-virtual life. Even though the seamless synthesis of virtual and ‘real’ that Floridi discusses has not quite come to pass, the influence the information environment in the midst of the Coronavirus Epidemic is elucidating. I have seen the nature of the information landscape fueling the mass panic sweeping the world, which is evidenced in the supermarket stockpiling. It was a truly eerie feeling walking amongst the vast, empty shelves. It was something I have not seen in my lifetime and felt really significant.
It made me reflect on my own state of anxiety in this time and how the information landscape has been feeding it. The differentiated nature of the information available has made me obsessively check and recheck as each written piece, image, graph is slightly different. Which expert do I trust? How do I filter this information? What cultural or social parameters should I apply? How do I know which article I can read to help support, protect and provide for my family? How do I know which public commentary will suit me (my cultural and social identity)?
Information overload is another huge contributor, with new information available every second. I find myself glued to the minute by minute Guardian and Age updates. Reading slightly different versions of the same things. Skimming headlines and feeling the constant hum of available information as both a comfort and source of rising anxiety. With time and physical distance not a factor, the total availability of information from around the world is overwhelming.
If the role of an information specialist is to act as a conduit between the school community and the outside world then, at this time, the teacher librarian’s role is more important than ever. I can’t be an expert on all information but I can be a calm curator of collections! I see that my role in this time is to be brave and choose from the vast. To filter smaller resources or chunks of information for specific purposes and outcomes. Whether it is an article to sooth a Year 7 student’s fears or to find a learning platform for a staff member, the teacher librarian can make a real difference in this unique and challenging time.
Reference
Floridi, L. (2007). A look into the future impact of ICT on our lives. The Information Society, 23, 59-64. DOI: 10.1080/01972240601059094