Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

148If we observe the sequence <strong>of</strong> prevailing images 4 it seems clear how, at a certain stage, a changein the paradigm occurred: from computer as a single tool to the upcoming <strong>of</strong> networks as the mostimportant aspect <strong>of</strong> IT. From being a ‘single user’ tool, the computer has substantially become amedium through which human communication is carried out.Table 1.Computer images over timeAccordingly, the meaning <strong>of</strong> the Turing paradigm is not enough for IT. The space that the networksgenerate is what the IT ‘revolution’ is. The calculation and the programming is no longer central,but rather what is central is the domain <strong>of</strong> possible actions in the determined actions space.Similarly the Internet has historically developed with a progressive stratification and overlapping<strong>of</strong> various protocols and standards used and developed beyond what their creators meant:this underlines a development form that is no longer within the original framework <strong>of</strong> theprogramming- calculation model 5 .In fact, the physical networks and protocols exist in a domain <strong>of</strong> linguistic actions that are strictlyinherent to the technological design process. In the traditional model the objective was the design<strong>of</strong> a system that from a family <strong>of</strong> pre-fixed inputs would provide an output requested by anindividual. This was the request: for the traditional mainframes to even the sophisticated dream <strong>of</strong>artificial intelligence.Now the IT problem is the designing <strong>of</strong> the family <strong>of</strong> possible inputs in a human linguistic domain,the output <strong>of</strong> which are the very same domain characteristics and potential. In this context, theuser is part <strong>of</strong> the project and designer at the same time being constantly involved in the process<strong>of</strong> realisation <strong>of</strong> the network he/she is part <strong>of</strong>. Technological networks, human language, and,consequently, social relations are part <strong>of</strong> the same unique biological project.4 Fast Calculator –> Super Intelligence –> Versatile Tool –> Communication Partner –> Communication Tool –> Tool to shapeCommunication.5 The failure <strong>of</strong> the ISO/OSI model in favour <strong>of</strong> the TCP/IP family can be somehow understood under this viewpoint.