-
Telematics and the Early History of International Digital Information Flows
- IEEE Annals of the History of Computing
- IEEE Computer Society
- Volume 40, Number 2, April-June 2018
- pp. 32-47
- 10.1353/ahc.2018.0012
- Article
- Additional Information
Abstract:
The origins of telematics and the early history of international information flows are recounted. As a result of post–World War II efforts to encourage the free flow of data in the service of peacemaking and economic growth, the computer utility, distributed data processing services, and the post-industrial information society were born. Hand in hand with these developments emerged political and technical difficulties of data protection, network and national sovereignty, and identity. Interconnection and high-velocity information sharing encouraged culturally ingrained expectations of flow at work and in life. It also destabilized the national security, international relationships, and global commerce.