The Evolution of Reading and Writing in the Networked Era

In Stein's words "Notions of authority are being challenged. The roles of author and reader are morphing and blurring. Publishing, methods of distribution, peer review and copyright - every crucial aspect of the way we move ideas around - is up for grabs. The new digital technologies afford vastly different outcomes ranging from oppressive to liberating. How we make this shift has critical long term implications for human society." Stein will present both the research he is carrying out in this domain as Director of The Institue for the Future of the Book as well as discuss what he sees as the shift in our world view from individual to network that he proposes holds the promise of a radical reconfiguraton in culture.