The Centre for Information & Communication within the Van Horne Institute is dedicated to researching the broad social implications of convergence in communications and information technologies within society.

The term convergence is generally interpreted in technological terms. It entails the fusion of computer, telecommunications, and media. Specifically, convergence is associated with exponential innovations in computers (microchips and software), telecommunications (fibre optics and digital switching) and media (digitization, hypermedia). The current trajectory of technological innovations in communications and information technologies promises in the very near future: an almost infinite abundance of noise-free transmission modes, the digitization of all media contents, the construction of deep databases and sophisticated metadata search engines, the development of high speed and portable CPU’s with transparent and readily configurable software.

While it is not difficult to forecast the trajectory of technological innovations in communications and information technologies in the years to come, it is not easy to guess how these innovations will come into use in social context. Our Centre is interested in researching the broad array of issues related to use, including: economic issues (e-commerce, security); political issues (privacy, new democratic modes); social policy issues (educational and health); sociological issues (new forms of community); cultural issues (new modes for production, distribution and reception). Since each of these areas involves a complex manifold of social practices they will not be driven by innovations in the technologies alone.

In trying to look at issues like the above we are oriented by the humble recognition that in today’s world, and increasingly in the future, it will not be possible for any local institution to speak with authority on the context of innovation. With this is mind, we see our Centre as developing a broad network of expertise drawn from the research, corporate, and governmental sectors. The construction of a network of expertise of this sort will enable us to develop courses and programs of instruction that hopefully will remain fresh, relevant and critical . It may also help us maintain a constructive dialogue with those involved in the design of new communications and information technologies.