Verlagsinformation: This volume considers general issues covering the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT) to the development of learning, the role and potential of E learning, computer supported collaborative learning and innovative pedagogy, as well as very focused issues such as online knowledge communities, the characteristics of agents and multimedia animation. With many "state of the art" contributions, Informatics and the Digital Society: Social, Ethical and Cognitive Issues addresses the following themes: *The e-literate society - the role of informatics, computer science and ICT; *ICT - agent of change and social conflict; *E-learning - meeting the challenge of technology on society through new partnerships; *Paradigm shifts in education and professional life. The thought-provoking and controversial papers in this volume make a powerful contribution to the debate that surrounds the increasing pervasion of ICT in all sectors of our lives - especially the education sector. Evidence from contributors - drawn particularly from Europe, but also representing the Americas and Australia - supports the contention that all countries are urgently addressing the issues and problems raised by ICT. Each country will have to derive its own, unique solution. This collection of papers will certainly inform and should considerably assist that decision making and problem resolution. Informatics and the Digital Society: Social, Ethical and Cognitive Issues contains the edited proceedings of SECIII, the Open Conference on Social, Ethical and Cognitive Issues of Informatics and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which was sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (WIP) Working Groups 3.1 (Secondary Education) and 3.2 (Higher Education). It was held in July 2002 at the University of Dortmund, Germany, in cooperation with the German Computer Society (Gesellschaft für Informatik).