A new service of information brokers: online consulting

Abstract

The Internet is converting to a second virtual layer of the material world. Mirroring the real world electronically, this world can be brought to any computer monitor. Due to its electronic form, computing power meets communication and opens a wide range of capabilities that the matter-bound world cannot provide. To navigate and to exploit this computerised reflection of the world, information brokers with their Internet competence can provide valuable consulting services beyond information retrieval.