[Information explosion in a better light after fifty years]

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Bibliometrics
• Scientific Communication

Context:

• The mid-20th century saw an
• information explosion
• due to rapid scientific development and increased publication rates.
• Traditional bibliographic and library systems struggled to cope with the overwhelming volume of new data.
• This phenomenon impacted both professional and public communities, creating a need for better information management.

Purpose:

• To analyze the historical emergence and impact of the information explosion.
• To identify the challenges posed by information overload to scientific communities.
• To explore the role of technological advancements in mitigating information overload.

Summary:

• The rapid increase in scientific publications after World War II led to an information explosion.
• Modernization of publishing and an increase in journals exacerbated the data overload.
• The development of the internet and powerful information technologies provided crucial tools for managing this data.

Impact:

• The internet and advanced information technologies, including search engines and databases, have transformed information access.
• Effective information management is now essential for scientific productivity and innovation in the digital age.
• These tools help navigate and utilize vast amounts of information, preventing a return to catastrophic information overload.