The Internet on Earth

A fascinating and vital area of research, the geography of information describes the role of information as both economic and commercial product and its distribution and movement across boundaries of cyberspace and conventional geography. Written by a pioneer in telecommunications geography research, this prize winning title (AAG award 2003) applies information geography to the world of high-tech, examining the latest wrinkles in the Internet, Silicon Valley, mobile telephony, and other key areas.

• the first book to provide both a context for the geography of information and a critical overview of recent research.
• Includes location-specific references and case studies.
• Examines the information society, information economy, telecommunications and its geographical impact.

Contexts

Information and Knowledge

The Information Society

The Information Economy

Information Politics

Information Law

Conclusion

Basics

The Scope of Information Geography

Space

Place

Conclusion

Technology

Information and Technology

Technology and Flows

Knowledge

Innovation

Technology

Information Technology Regions

Conclusion

Information Volumes and Origins

The Internet: Evolution and Structure

A Conceptual Framework for Information Production

Ranking Urban Centers of Information Production

Global Centers: New York and Los Angeles

IT R&D Information Production

Conclusion

Contents

Content Demand and Location

Capital as Information

E-Commerce and Location

Geographic Language

Conclusion

Transmission

The Internet Backbones

Flows

US Leadership in Telecommunications

Conclusion

Media

Leading Nations

The Digital Divide

Conclusion

Consumption

Social Uses of the Internet

Internet Consumption in Cities

Use and Location

Broadband

Conclusion

Beyond

Challenges

Geography of Information

"...an excellent textbook...provides very rich descriptions...should be congratulated for presenting 'hot-button' issues..." (New Media & Society, Vol 6(3), June 2004)

"...a useful book that synthesises a great deal of contemporary literature..." (Environment & Planning B: Planning and Design, Vo. 31, No.3 2004)

"Its collection and subsequent organization of references, as well as the clarity of its presentation, should make it highly appealing to a wide audience." (Urban Studies, July 2005)

Aharon Kellerman is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Israel, and is President of Zefat Academic College, Israel. He also serves as Vice-President of the International Geographical Union (IGU), and acts as Honorary Chair of its Commission on the Geography of the Information Society, which he established and chaired. He has been involved with the geographical study of telecommunications and information for over two decades. In today's communication-driven society, 'information' is an economic and commercial product that has a geography of locations, flows and geographical impacts. The Internet on Earth: a Geography of Information provides the first systematic treatment for the geography of information and the Internet in light of information technology.

This book provides readers with the contexts and basic notions of information and Internet geography, and then considers the major phases of its dimensions and operations through technology, production, contents, transmission, the media and consumption of information. A unique book in several ways, The Internet on Earth: a Geography of Information:

• Presents readers with international, national, and urban data for various aspects of the Internet and information at large.
• Highlights geographical differences for many aspects of the Internet industry, as well as identifying leading cities and countries in information technology, information production, and information consumption.
• Addresses the interrelationships between information and information technology, as well as those between information and knowledge, notably within the context of the Internet.

The Internet on Earth: a Geography of Information is an essential read for student and academic geographers and information scientists, especially those interested in information and telecommunications, urban and economic geography. It will also be of interest to professionals working in telecommunications and information technology.