e-health and e-care: an application of actor network theory in social communication

ABSTRACT The goal of this paper is to argue for the concept of social communication that we identified with the idea of innovation and almost always to technological innovation. The starting point is the hypothesis that innovation is a valuable tool in the service of the greater good. The paper has four sections. First, it briefly reviews concepts and methods in Actor Network Theory, a social theory that is useful in framing the (theoretical) approach and implications of e-service (e-care, e-health, etc … ). Second, it examines the implication of social innovation and e-service and discusses the prime agents involved in its creation. Third, it assesses the role of social communication and initiative’s benefits and risks to society. Finally, the paper concludes by exploring the broad implications of e-service for evolution of national-state conventional communication.