An information dynamic: technologies for the reproduction of written utterances

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to reveal an information dynamic in which technology or dead labour is substituted for living mental labour. Design/methodology/approach – A comparative historical review of technologies for reproducing written utterances and their relation to living labour. Findings – A dynamic for mental labour, similar to that for physical labour, is isolated. Research limitations/implications – The productivity paradox, a central concern of the information systems literature, is dissolved. Originality/value – The paper is relevant to both information science and information systems. Understanding an information dynamic can enable intervention in that dynamic.