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, the book 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; and paradigm shifts in education and professional life. 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 should inform and 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 co-operation with the German Computer Society (Gesellschaft fur Informatik).