Users emerge from information overload unscathed

The information overload is over, according to a Reuters report published today. The survey of 1070 business managers across 11 European countries found that almost 50 per cent think the Internet, voicemail and email now improve their information management strategies.

Information overload became an issue in the early nineties when modern communication technology seemed to be creating more information headaches than it was solving.

In a similar Reuters survey only two years ago, 35 per cent of respondents said the Internet was already contributing to information overload. In the report released today 49 per cent of managers said exactly the opposite.

Paul Waddington, marketing director at Reuters, told Silicon.com that researchers were shocked when they compiled the survey results: "The findings are totally contrary to what most people currently think and completely contrary to what we were expecting."

He said the survey indicates that information overload is part of a IT adoption cycle where initially the revolution only causes havoc. This has now washed away because business professionals are more disciplined, the technology has been refined and is driven more by commerce rather than for its own sake. According to Reuters Eastern Europe and Asia are still in the first phase, but will soon catch up.

Robin Bloor, CEO of Bloor Research, agreed that the survey represents a reversal of recent trends. He admitted that communication technology - such as the Internet - has revolutionised his research tasks: "I've completely moved over from paper-based to electronic information format - in fact I've thrown away my Computer Weekly and Computing and only use the Net."

But Bloor warned that the information overload may not be completely over, adding that users now have to search further for more information so the quantity will increase. "Moving over to the Net has been a bit like the transport revolution from horse and cart to car - all we need now is better roads."