"Knowledge Capital in the Digital Society" describes how the information society arose, is currently structured, and its possible future directions. The author argues that knowledge is an important part of a person's capital and that information technologies have brought us to the critical point where knowledge is becoming systems-centric instead of brain-centric. He describes how digital technologies are creating a new world information community (WIC) that will impact every facet of our lives. The book analyzes ten areas that are changing our thinking, communication, and decision-making, among them a shift away from memorizing and toward WIC navigation and concept understanding, as well as a move toward transparency and knowledge equality. Taking the example of GPS navigation, i.e., devices that tell people how to find their way, the author predicts that future software will guide us in many other functions of our daily lives, including emotional behavior and decision-making. The challenge of the future is a new intelligence that emphasizes concept understanding, creativity, and identifying accurate information, rather than memorizing data. The emerging value of transparency in the digital society will require companies, governments, and other organizations to establish new policies and practices for the management of their knowledge capital. On an individual basis, knowledge capital management includes our anticipating risks and opportunities that we can best meet with what the author calls "digital hygiene." The book cites examples from the banking and healthcare industries to describe the possibilities that digital technologies offer. The effects of WIC can also be seen in new virtual communities that go beyond borders. Economic disruptive effects are discussed as well as the potential for better living conditions globally. An era of enlightenment could open new avenues to reduce violence, increase well-being, create technology-enabled democracies, and introduce fact-checking to combat information distortion. While there are many books about computers and the internet, "Knowledge Capital in the Digital Society" is unique in that it comprehensively addresses how we got here and what the challenges and options of the digital future are. The book will appeal to those interested in information technologies, intelligence, the philosophical meaning of life, the role of information in our lives, and the opportunities for thriving in the digital society of the future.
For over 35 years, C. Peter Waegemann has studied the influence of the information society on our thinking and our lives. From 1984 to 2009 he was CEO of Medical Records Institute in Boston, MA. He is an internationally recognized visionary in healthcare informatics, has published widely in the US and Germany, and frequently speaks on the information society, eHealth, knowledge management, and analytics. In 2007, HealthLeaders named him one of the 20 outstanding people who make healthcare better. He is based in Boston MA and Berlin Germany. Publications include: Knowledge Capital in the Digital Society, CreateSpace, 2012 "The Future of mHealth," in mHealth: From Smart Phones to Smart Systems, HIMSS, 2012 "mHealth, New opportunities for healthcare improvement," Asian Hospital and Healthcare Management, 2011 Internationale Entwicklungen in HIT und medizinischer Dokumentation, DVMD, Germany 2011 "Patienten- und Arztkommunikation mit der Elektronischen Patientenakte" in Personalisierte Medizin & Informationstechnologie, Dresden: Health Academy 14, 2011 Strategy for Information and Image Management in the 1990s, Optical Disk Institute, Boston MA, 1992 Handbook of Optical Memory Systems, Optical Disk Institute, Newton MA, 1989 Handbook of Record Storage and Space Management, Greenwood Press, 1987 Past chair and board roles include: Mobile Healthcare Alliance 2004-2004 SNOMED INTERNATIONAL 2004 ASTM Committee E31 Centre for Advancement of Electronic Health Records Ltd. (England) 1992-2002 American National Standards Institute's Healthcare Informatics Standards Board 1995-2001 US National Coordinator: G8 GIS Theme Two (Health Care, etc.) 1997 CORBAmed, Object Management Group 1995-1998 ASTM E31 Authentication of Healthcare Information Subcommittee 1994-1995 International Patient Card Standards Council 1991-1995 US Technical Advisory Group, ISO TC215 Health Informatics, US Technical Advisory Group; Consumer Interests and Web Activity Standards Task Groups Consensus Group on Information Capture and Report Generation Recognitions include: 2007 HealthLeaders: "one of the 20 outstanding people who make healthcare better" 2001 American National Standards Institute: Appreciation of work in ANSI HISB 2000 AAMT: Distinguished Service Award 1999 ASTM Award: Contributions to healthcare standards work 1995 American Society of Engineers: Outstanding work in standardization in health care 1994 Computer-based Patient Record Institute: Recognition Award
