Editorial

Abstract

The phrase 'joined-up' is fast becoming something of a badge for modern imaginative ways of thinking. While much of this attitude may be 'hype' there do seem to be trends which .stress joined-up views of the world. From a social perspective this is evident in moves towards political union in Western Europe and the global influence of multinational corporations. Technology is also contributing to the joined-up view. Multimedia supports new forms of expression, which integrate diverse forms of representation, as eloquently advocated by Negroponte (1995). Networked technologies enable and encourage global communication and information dissemination, as emphasized by the recent decision in the UK to support the development of a Distributed National Electronic Resource (JISC, 1999).