Infoxication 2.0

I wrote a chapter for the Handbook of Research on Web 2.0 and Second Language Learning, to be published in January 2009 by IGI Global (I wrote it in  Nov. 2007, at this rate, when it gets published all the information might be  outdated). Anyway, the chapter reviews the issue of information overload, introducing the concept of ‘infoxication 2.0‘ as one of the main “downsides”  to Web 2.0. This is how I define it:

Infoxication 2.0 is a viral process, a ripped, mixed and burned virus coming from our most essential needs (information and communication), exponentially worsened by the myriad of Web 2.0 communication and networking possibilities. It refers to an intoxication of excessive informational and communicative demands.

The ideas expressed here reveal that although the problem of information overload has existed for many years (examples provided), the massive abundance of fragmented Web 2.0 informational and communicative resources for the language learner may become an obstacle, i.e. it is often difficult to find what’s useful (I also give examples of the potential effects of infoxication 2.0 on the learner’s cognitive process).

Then, I identify two types of solutions, those based on common sense and time management and those based on technology agents such as RSS readers and especially the future generation of RSS mash-up tools. Thus, I identify not only the advantages of RSS readers in terms of helping teachers and learners keep their language resources organized, but also some of the main limitations of current RSS technologies and the need for a new generation of truly semantic RSS is explained. I guess it’d be better if I wikified the draft so it could be kept up-to-date (especially the part in which solutions are provided: they are technological, and technology gets outdated very quickly. I’ll think about it. What do you think?)

Due to legal restrictions by IGI Global, I can’t upload and share the final chapter here. So I am sharing a draft with you (i.e. never mind the typos).

I encourage you to order the Handbook (or rather ask your library to do it, it’s a pricey one) because they’re now offering a pre-publication price, which will be good until March 1, 2009 (note: contributors don’t get a penny, which could be the leitmotif for a long topic some other day…).

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