Information Infrastructure

The term "Information Superhighway" was first used by the current US Vice President, Al Gore. It refers to a National Information Infrastructure (NNI) of US. An Information Infrastructure is an infrastructure of a geographical region that enables information to be transmitted from one point in this region to another. According to this definition, the concept of II covers Postage service, Publication distribution, etc. andexisted in human society long ago. Remember our ancestors, the ancient Chinese, used smoke to transmit the message of the coming of the enemies in the Great Wall. This was the II by that time.

The change

It was the change of II that creates the so-called "Information Revolution". Information here refers to not only our letters and printed documents but also electronic signals. Video, movie, song, phone, etc., are all information. Now, technology advancement enables us to store, manipulate and transmit information more efficiently. This results in a possibility of having an II which has three nice properties :

	Broadband : The II can conduct a very large amount of information.
	Interactivity : It allows to both send and receive information at the same time. The current TV network, either cable, satellite is a non-interactive network which one can only receive from but not send information to.
	Accessibility : It allows people to access it from anywhere at anytime.

Component of II

This advancement calls for a new perspective of looking at the II. Currently, the II consists of the following dimensions :

Information content: It includes all the data which the II transmits. Video, movie, song, photo, etc., are all information that can be potentially transmitted through the II.
Network: It composes of the access device and the media. The access device refers to the machine which through which people pass or receive information to the media. Examples are telephone, networked computer, television. The media is the networks which conduct the elctronic signals such as fiber optics network, copper network, microwave wireless network, satellite networks, etc.
People: All professionals who operate, manage the II.

Information Utility

With such an broadband, interactive, highly accessible network, people can access information much more easily, getting whatever he/she wants, whenever sh/she wants, wherever he/she is. This impact is huge. Information is viewed in a new way. It becomes an utility. Information Utility. It means information, such as electricity or water, will go to our home, or office, through a easily accessible sockets which we can connect an information appliances to it and utilize the information content on demand, just like we connect our air-conditioner to the electric socket and get the electricity to drive the electric appliance.

Generator	Electirc Supply Power plant	Information Supply Publishing compnay, TV station studio, news agency, etc.
Conductance	Electric wire	Network
How it come to our home	Through electricity sockets in different part of our home	Through sockets to which we connect our computer, telephone or TV
How we use the utility	By various electric appliances, such as air-conditioner, lamp, etc.	By various information appliances, such as computer, TV, telephone, etc.

Compare between electric and information utility

Impact on our entertainment life

Various new services will be available. Some examples are : Movie with more than one ending will be made. Instead of being passive watching it, you can choose your favorite ending actively and interactively while you are watching the movie.

Interactive movie

A movie will be transmitted through the network to your home upon request. You have no need to go to video rental shop to physically bring in the video tape. Also, you can watch the movie whenever you want.

Video-on-demand

You can shop by pointing your remote control and select desired items displayed in the screen of your interactive television. Afterwards, you can key in your credit password and purchase. Your item will be delivered to your home later.

Home shopping

You can play various games like Bridge, Mahjong, Chess with your friends living in foreign countries through the interactive television screen which displays the cards, Mahjong or chess and your friends' face.