Introduction

News

Can a computer ever be conscious?
Consciousness is a delicate subject that scientists have sometimes kept away from because of its philosophical nature. But can a computer ever be conscious?

The latest compelling paper in the regular Debates and Perspectives section from the Journal of Information Technology focuses on two of the giants in the field of consciousness. Ray Tallis and Igor Aleksander become intellectual sparring partners in a debate entitled 'Computer models of the mind are invalid' - the paper is available to access for free during 2008.

Ray Tallis and Igor Aleksander also appear on TechWeekly, the Guardian's technology blog, in a debate on the same subject, click here to listen.

Does the NHS need a new brand of realism?

The application of IT in health is critical. The September 2007 issue of the Journal of Information Technology focuses on the NHS and the continuing mega-programme, the National Programme for IT (NPfIT).

Rethinking and reengineering the practice of health has too often been ignored in favour of the optimistic, though false belief that implementing new IT alone will solve all the problems.

But are the current approaches to IT investment in NPfIT threatening both its timely completion and its ultimate success? This special issue of the Journal of Information Technology suggests it is.

Providing a new brand of realism for the NHS.
Without a reality check in place the NHS will be condemned to repeat history with the same participants playing the same games and not actually confronting the real risks.

In this special issue of the Journal of Information Technology the key messages are:

• Everyone thinks NHS staff need more IT – the idea of investing in IT is sensible.
  But, there is little agreement (ie clinicians, managers, IT specialists, suppliers, politicians, patients, taxpayers, press, academic commentators) as to where the NPfIT should be targeted.
• With so many stakeholders, a collective view is unreasonable. A monolithic programme that pretends that such agreement exists is misplaced.
• In such a large and complex organisation as the NHS whose structure has been devolved for operational simplicity, a centrally directed initiative such as NPfIT is fundamentally at odds with the structure and culture – NPfIT is an organisational MISfIT.
• If the programme is ever to have any chance, it requires high levels of transparency and openness about the challenges it raises and the ways to resolve them.

A group of academic experts have provided papers for this issue so that the debate can be shifted to a new brand of realism where implementation and use of IT in the NHS really does make a difference for patients.

Audience

The Journal of Information Technology is of interest to academics, scholars, advanced students and reflective practitioners in management science, information systems and computer science disciplines. The journal will also inform those seeking an update on current experience and future prospects in the areas of contemporary information and communications technology.