Digital Consumers: implications and lessons for libraries, publishers and government

by Prof. David Nicholas (Director of the Department of Information Studies - University College London)

Monday 8 Feb 2010, 15:30 → 17:00 Europe/Zurich

60/6-015 (CERN)

The presentation describes and evaluates the use, information seeking and reading behaviour of the ubiquitous digital information consumer, as portrayed in the digital, tell-tale footprints they leave behind them. Data are drawn from a seven year study of the digital consumer in the media, voluntary sector, health and scholarly information environments by the CIBER research group at UCL. Hundreds of thousands of digital consumers from all over the globe are covered in the analyses. On the basis of these data, the characteristics of their ‘digital footprints’ are highlighted demonstrating that a huge paradigm shift has apparently occurred in information seeking and reading behaviour of everyone, but especially the young. The results are surprising, disturbing and challenging for society as a whole, especially in regard to young. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the significance of the findings for information professionals, teachers, publishers, employers and government and how best to cope with a population with a marked preference for fast information, multi-tasking and power browsing, but not reading and reflection[1].

[1] The CIBER findings will form part of a BBC television, The Virtual Revolution which will be televised on 20th February.

Rushes

The presentation will be in English.