The transformation of scientific communication: A model for 2020

Abstract

Information technologies, particularly the personal computer and the World Wide Web, are changing the ways that scientists communicate. The traditional print-based system that relies on the refereed scientific journal as the key delivery mechanism for research findings is undergoing a transformation to a system much more reliant on electronic communication and storage media. This article offers a new paradigm for communication in science, and suggests how digital media might bring new roles and functionalities to participants. The argument is made that behavioral and organizational determinants are as important factors as technological capabilities in shaping the future.