Information is an essential resource for any decision, but some data is more valuable tha
n other. Information that is current, accurate, scarce or can be used to make high value decisions is quite important and therefore, expensive. When data loses its timeliness, accuracy or scarcity, it loses its value. This is not a new concept, but the Internet has changed the perception.
Research on the Internet is so much easier than going to the library and digging through stacks of books. Information on the Internet is easily accessible, but you have to check its authenticity and correctness. Books in libraries have more validation by the fact that they made it to the library shelf. There is no guarantee that the information in library books is correct and authentic, but there are facts about the author, publisher, copyright and sources that give some credibility to the work. Information on the Internet that is not cited should be viewed with suspicion.
Information in the public domain is vast and available on the Internet which makes it free for the taking, reading and repeating.
Should information that is not in the public domain be accessible and free? Much debate has surrounded Stewart Brand’s statement that “information wants to be free.” But he also said that information wants to be expensive. This is a wonderful paradox.
Holding and discussing the two opposing views that information wants to be free and expensive gives depth and dimension to the argument. So take the free information the Internet has to offer and purchase information that has value to you. It’s your choice.
My journey has taken me many places I never imagined - from a family driving school business, to a dairy farm, to an engineering degree, to parenting two teenage girls. My first position after completing my electrical engineering degree was at Commonwealth Edison in transmission line design. After returning to Atlanta, I accepted a temporary position as a support engineer at Advanced Control Systems. It was a 3-month contract that lasted 10 years and I was promoted to department manager at ACS.. Now at LAN Systems, I still devote myself to providing support without compromise. My goal is to make LAN Systems known to all as the best IT Solutions and Service provider in the metro Atlanta area. Still committed to providing exceptional support that serves the needs of the people that use technology, I work with our engineers to improve their problem solving and interpersonal skills. In addition to my responsibilities with LAN Systems, I volunteer with several non-profits that serve the electric utility industry and introduce engineering as a career to young people.Technology is almost as awesome as people and look forward to exploring many “technology for the people” topics at AtlantaSmall.biz.
