There have been many inevitable transformations in society due to digitization - the introduction of digital technology, including communication technology, through the Internet and its use via the Web. This book is the first Yearbook of the Digital Enlightenment Forum. Whilst it cannot cover all the many aspects which the forum encompasses, the book gives an impression of the broad spectrum of the forum and a clear picture of the multi-disciplinary nature of the issues at stake. The first paper in the book is a contribution from the father of the Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and Harry Halpin. They pose the question of whether the opportunity to participate in the empowered connected society should be protected, and conclude that urgent action is needed to promote and defend the Internet and the Web. Other papers explore topics such as legal issues and the rights of the citizen, privacy protection and international cooperation in the fight against cyber crime. The book ends with a number of scientific and technical papers as well as descriptions of practical problems and their possible solutions. Although the book addresses only the tip of a very large iceberg of problems, issues and possible technologies, it provides an excellent picture of the many challenges which must be faced in the years to come, and will be of interest to all those working towards the development of society in the spirit of enlightenment.

Tracking the evolution of digital technology is no easy task; changes happen so fast that keeping pace presents quite a challenge. This is, nevertheless, the aim of the Digital Enlightenment Yearbook. This book is the third in the series which began in 2012 under the auspices of the Digital Enlightenment Forum. This year, the focus is on the relationship of individuals with their networks, and explores “Social networks and social machines, surveillance and empowerment”. In what is now the well-established tradition of the yearbook, different stakeholders in society and various disciplinary communities (technology, law, philosophy, sociology, economics, policymaking) bring their very different opinions and perspectives to bear on this topic. The book is divided into four parts: the individual as data manager; the individual, society and the market; big data and open data; and new approaches. These are bookended by a Prologue and an Epilogue, which provide illuminating perspectives on the discussions in between. The division of the book is not definitive; it suggests one narrative, but others are clearly possible. The 2014 Digital Enlightenment Yearbook gathers together the science, social science, law and politics of the digital environment in order to help us reformulate and address the timely and pressing questions which this new environment raises. We are all of us affected by digital technology, and the subjects covered here are consequently of importance to us all.

The value of personal data has traditionally been understood in ethical terms as a safeguard for personality rights such as human dignity and privacy. However, we have entered an era where personal data are mined, traded and monetized in the process of creating added value - often in terms of free services including efficient search, support for social networking and personalized communications. This volume investigates whether the economic value of personal data can be realized without compromising privacy, fairness and contextual integrity. It brings scholars and scientists from the disciplines of computer science, law and social science together with policymakers, engineers and entrepreneurs with practical experience of implementing personal data management. The resulting collection will be of interest to anyone concerned about privacy in our digital age, especially those working in the field of personal information management, whether academics, policymakers, or those working in the private sector.

How does foreign language learners' agency emerge at the micro-level of classroom activity during the enactment of digitally-enhanced tasks, and how do these learners exercise their agency digitally within and beyond the classroom? Drawing on research in task-based and computer-assisted language learning, this mixed-methods study uncovers key dimensions of "learner agency" - a newcomer to the field of language teaching methodology and applied linguistics. The analysis centers on three case studies of teenage students' perceptions and handling of digitally-enhanced language learning tasks. These are complemented with a Germany-wide questionnaire survey among participants in the U.S. Embassy School Election Project - an intercultural, blended language learning project that has drawn over 15,000 participants since 2012.

Technological innovation continues to be present in all areas of our lives, offering seemingly endless possibilities. As technology is increasingly implemented in healthcare applications, it is necessary to understand whether users respond to a predefined organizational strategy of model of care or whether they will become wholly dependent on the healthcare technology. This understanding is especially crucial when dealing with the possibility of generating inequities, especially with individuals that are elderly. Exploring the Role of ICTs in Healthy Aging is a collection of innovative research that proposes the detailed study of a strategic framework for the development of technological innovation in healthcare and for its adoption by health organizations. While highlighting topics including emotional health, quality of life, and telemedicine, this book is ideally designed for physicians, nurses, hospital staff, medical professionals, home care providers, hospital administrators, academicians, students, and researchers. Moreover, the book will provide insights and support executives concerned with the management of expertise, knowledge, information, and organizational development in different types of healthcare units at various levels.

This book interlinks the concepts of gender, alterity and education, with special focus on refugee education. What is unique in the book is its simultaneous examination of both gender and alterity in the context of theoretical debate, as well as empirical research on intercultural education. Additionally, the book raises issues (especially in the last chapter) about the opportunities arising from Distance Education (DE) and E-learning, regarding their emancipating potentials in combatting gender and cultural inequalities and discrimination. The book will be of particular interest to active teachers, at both primary or secondary levels, as well as academics working in the fields of multicultural and intercultural education, migration, ethnic studies, racism, gender studies, etc.

Media and Information Literacy: An Integrated Approach for the 21st Century provides a novel rationale for the integration of media and information literacy and gives direction to contemporary media and information literacy education. The book takes a synthetic approach to these two areas, presenting critical histories of both. The book explores the influence of political forces and educational practice on media literacy and the contemporary media environment, focusing on computing and mobile technology as a platform for existing and non-computational media. The final section considers a new rationale for the adjustment of content and activities into a combined project, building on a range of skills from contemporary media, reconsidering the mission of media literacy, and advocating that media and information literacy be expanded out of the classroom and positioned as a 'public pedagogy'. - Proposes a new route direction for media and information literacy - Combines critical histories of media literacy and information literacy - Integrates an account of technological development as a key driver to educational activities while retaining core progressive intents - International in scope with recognition of international agencies, such as UNESCO and the UN