The fast development of information and communication technologies and the significant impact of these developments throughout society are changing societal structures and organisations. In addition, the individual in his or her various roles is facing strict requirements for change. At the same time, as the information society opens up new opportunities for citizens, public administration and private business, there is also the risk that it may exacerbate social problems, increase polarisation and have adverse affects on cohesion in society. At the beginning of the 21st century strains on development of human-centred society have increased and become very actual. In the frames of the Information Research Programme (financed by the Academy of Finland) researchers have tried to find different perspectives on the information society itself, its development and consequences. This book consists of articles written by people working mainly in the projects of the above-mentioned research programme The authors of articles hope that this book will provide new, interesting and critical points of view on the information society in general and, above all, a good overview on the current state and orientation of research into information and the information society in Finland.