The Next Wave: Using Digital Technology to Further Social and Political Innovation

By Dr. Darrell M. West

The Next Wave covers a vast range of topics, from cloud computing in the public sector to broadband infrastructure policy to electronic health to digital media. Each of these topics is of wide interest, even when taken in isolation. West's contribution is not only in surveying these topics, but more importantly in critically assessing policy and organizational barriers to the uses of technology for social and political change, and in proposing policy recommendations. [It] will be widely read, and it certainly has the potential to improve policy and, indeed, make government and society better." —Kevin Easterling, University of California, Riverside

The digital revolution is in full force, yet its ramifications for government, business, and society remain unclear. Many public and private sector leaders are not sure how to achieve the full potential of digital technologies. In The Next Wave, Darrell West focuses on the next wave of technologies and how they can further U.S. social and political innovation.

There are many possibilities for using technological advances to help organizations become faster, smarter, and more efficient. People can deploy new digital technology to improve health care, education, news media, and public sector performance. New storage platforms such as high-speed broadband, mobile communications, and cloud computing enable both social and economic development. In order to gain these benefits, though, policymakers need to recognize the legitimacy of public fears about technology and the privacy and security dangers posed by the Internet. The goal is to further innovation and investment, while also protecting basic social and individual values.
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