Information and communication technologies

Various ongoing and proposed studies reflect the emergence of an "e-Society". Obviously, the Internet is central to this since it combines technologies and services and increasingly influences public and private life. Following this trend the has contributed greatly to the further development of Internet research over the past few years: studies on ICTs involve the online provision of public information and services, privacy issues and questions concerning the protection of personal data and the importance of the Internet for the research and academic community.

All projects in the area ICT

Currently we focus on the following broad topics:

	Cyberscience–Cyberknowledge
	e-Government and e-Democracy
	Privacy

Cyberscience–Cyberknowledge

Cyberscience deals with the influence of new media on geographical and social structure and on working methods in the field of academic research. New forms of publications and the representation of knowledge represent one of the major foci in this area. This provides the starting point for further research on "cyberknowledge", that is, on knowledge that is broadly accessible via digital networks. The Internet does not only encompass private, public and business communication but is increasingly becoming a space for the storage, transmission and representation of "knowledge". Given this context, the research programme is based upon a wider notion of "knowledge" taking into consideration all forms of digital data included in texts, databases, pictures, films, audio files and which is provided by both public institutions (such as libraries, museums, public bodies) and private organisations, commercially or otherwise. The way in which society handles "cyberknowledge" in the future provides the key questions guiding this research programme: Who has access to "cyberknowledge" and under what conditions? How can the provision and maintenance of "cyberknowledge" be guaranteed? Current issues related to "cyberknowledge" will be critically analysed along these research questions and close co-operation with other projects in the field of "e-society" has already been undertaken.

e-Government and e-Democracy

The traditional organisation of public institutions and services and the relationship between public administration and citizens/businesses are changing. The production and use of public services have altered due to growing Internet penetration rates, administrative reforms targeting the re-organisation of the public sector, new public management concepts and the EU's focus on the establishment of a European Information Society ("e-Europe initiative"). The "e-government" research area deals with the impact of new media on information, communication and transaction processes in public administration and institutions. Besides interactions among public bodies, citizens and businesses, e-government also includes services which enhance democratic communication and participation structures (e-democracy).

The recognised the growing significance of the Internet for public administration at a very early stage. In 1999, it undertook the first empirical study of "Electronic Government in Austria" on behalf of the Austrian Federal Chancellery. Consequently, further research co-operation have been established at international level, such as in the context of COST A14 "Government and Democracy in the Digital Age", a symposium and a book publication on "Public Sector Information in the Digital Age" and the EU-project PRISMA "Providing Innovative Service Models and Assessment". Against this international background one major target of this research area is the analysis of the technical-organisational design options and the socio-economic impact of ICTs on public administration. It focuses on both internal (back-office)and external processes i.e. research will investigate the relationships between agencies and public bodies and relationships between citizens/businesses and the public administration.

Another focus within this area is e-democracy and the new possibilities of civic participation through widely accessible digital networks. It primarily deals with theory-driven empirical studies concerning deliberative communication processes at regional, national and European level. Research within this field aims to question how far the Internet can enhance democratic participation. The evaluation of electronic participation platforms will be at the centre of analysis. In general, the increasing provision of online discussion platforms and the involvement of citizens in online consultation processes necessitate an impact assessment of the concrete output of such participation processes (e.g. in Parliamentarian committees, EU-advisory boards etc.), an assessment of the democratic potential of ICTs and recommendations about future-oriented "good practice" models in the field of e-democracy.

Privacy

The amount of data generated and stored has increased enormously due to the digitisation of information and the rapid diffusion of Internet and mobile communication. "Ubiquitous Computing" and powerful biometric identification systems have extended hitherto unknown possibilities of surveillance and have opened up new forms of data collection, combination and analysis. Technological development is not a single-track process however: Efficient technologies which are supposed to protect privacy have been developed and introduced. However, these technologies have so far lacked significant usage rates.

Together with the classic technically-induced approach which attempts to assess the consequences of concrete technologies, a problem-oriented method appears to be becoming more important in this context. "Privacy in the digital world" is the analytical focus of this research programme. Its aim is to identify and analyse the network of relationships involved between technologies, basic rights, social and political consequences and thereby derive options for action. Hence, the impact of ICTs on privacy is the starting point and the core of analysis. Furthermore, other technology and society-related "hot issues" (such as biometry, biotechnology, freedom of information and expression etc.) are dealt with in the context of 's privacy research area.

All projects in the area ICT