By 'information environment' we mean the environment that is managed for most of the users who join a local network and access many (often web-based) resources. It is in contrast to a 'grid' environment where users wish to execute/run a process or operate something remotely via grid middleware.

The [[http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=strat_ieds0105_draft2|JISC characterises the 'information environment']] as
 ''"the set of network or online services that support publishing and use of information and learning resources."''

Clearly, this near-definition could be contrived to include grid-like objects.  However, we are using the term deliberately to indicate 'learning resources' in contrast grid-like and processor-intensive resources that usually support ''research'' as opposed to traditionally-oriented ''learning''.