The information imperative Beneath the overheated publicity surrounding the Internet and all things digital lies a cold economic fact. But among the industrialized nations where that physical infrastructure is already well developed, dominance of information technology increasingly separates the best from the merely competent. Universities that offer students instant access to the latest scientific and technical information produce more capable graduates. Manufacturers become more efficient when they coordinate logistics with specialized software.
Hospitals improve service when patient records are stored and distributed via digital networks.
Banks and government agencies reduce document processing times when they conduct transactions electronically. On the surface it may seem that Latin American and Caribbean nations are keeping up with the imperatives of the information age. Brazil hosts what has been called the world's largest annual PC trade show. Computer magazines can be found on urban newstands in every country. Digital editions of dozens of regional newspapers appear on the World Wide Web.