More International Exchanges Investment, corporate and social activity, and people are increasingly moving across national borders, thus expanding the opportunities for the use of communications media in international exchanges. B. User Needs for Info-communications 1. There is a growing need to effectively convey and obtain information in easily understandable formats, using integrated text, sound, and visual information. Individuals want to use such multimedia functions as a means of self-expression, while businesses need them for such activities as sales and joint operations with distant offices. Networking Networking will greatly reduce the constraints of time and space and allow for effective information exchange and joint activities among offices in different locations.
Businesses hope to benefit from sophisticated networking of their communications functions.
Such services will allow people in remote, depopulated areas to participate more in the community, take part in cultural activities, and receive better medical advice and treatment. Networks can also serve as lifelines in times of natural disaster and thus become indispensable for the well-being of society as a whole. ISDN circuits are also being used experimentally with visual telephones to provide medical guidance to people living in remote locations. Regional information networks are used to spread information around the country from less well known areas. Interactivity Rather than merely receive masses of information, people want to be able to select information of importance to them, including regional information, at times when they need it.