Living in Digital Times
Beyond Technophobia: Societies Embracing Technological Innovation
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Christian Oggolder, Caroline Elisabeth Roth-Ebner
Beginning as an elitist technological innovation whose sole function was to transmit data, today the Internet and digital media play a central role in a global transformation process that affects all sectors of society, economy, politics, and the single individual (Castells 2005). Both the enormous growth of Internet users during the last decade and the increasing diversity of the respective usage possibilities reflect today's societal importance of the Internet and digital communication. The integration of the Internet into everyday life leads to a redefinition of lifestyles within an entirely mediatized society (Krotz 2012). In this paper, we will analyse by way of example some of the fields where technological innovation meets social transformation. The area of work may serve as a first example. The working environment is being transformed fundamentally along with the use of digital media: Not only communication has accelerated and proliferated, but also a blurring of the boundaries between leisure time and worktime can be observed (Roth-Ebner 2016). Second, childhood is increasingly being affected by the ubiquitous exposure to media, e.g. smartphones and tablets, which has consequences for peer communication, the organisation of family life and the way learning is performed (Livingstone 2013). As a third example, media content production has transformed in a way that users are participating much more in production processes. Traditional media are losing their function as gatekeepers (Bruns 2008), meanwhile bloggers and YouTubers attract diverse audiences. Therefore, we have to rethink common models of the public (Van Dijk 2013).
Learning through Unlearning: What People Need to Re-learn about Using Digital Technologies
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Miquel Colobran, Stephen Cheskiewicz
A recent study examining perceptions of information security identified that people are mostly concerned about potential day-to-day threats that can affect them, and more importantly, their children. The study also found that most people don’t understand how to protect themselves because they have not been well educated about how to use technology safely and effectively. The authors suggest the need for courses or full educational programs in digital living. Our study examines how perceptions of digital natives differ from digital immigrants in that digital immigrants have real-world, pre-online experience to better put the use of online resources into context, as digital natives have less of an understanding in separating their online world from the real world. Our digital technology involves new advantages and new risks, only by means of education can these risks be mitigated.
ICT Boundary Strategies and Spatio-temporal Rhythms in Everyday Working Life
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Calle Rosengren, Kristina Palm, Ann Bergman
The previous clearly defined spatial and temporal boundaries between work and private life are weakening in the trail of new technology and the digitalization of society. Access to ICT functions (email and text messages) enables employees to continue working after they leave the office. This study explores the process of how digital technology interacts with and affects relationships between work and private life, working conditions and wellbeing. It focuses on how digital technology is actively used by employees to manage accessibility to the different spheres. Using technology to achieve a balance between work and private life spheres is described as ICT boundary strategies. A case study was carried out involving three multinational industrial companies in Sweden. Time diaries and semi-structured interviews with a sample of 40 employees were used to see on how they manage the challenges of digital working life. The results indicate a wide variation in the participants’ ICT boundary strategies for balancing work and private life. The presentation highlights: how technology is tweaked to manage accessibility to different spheres by using multiple devices, keeping the spheres separate on ICT devices, and active use of ringtones; how work and private life are separated by dedicating technology to certain places (sedentarization); how the permeability of the domain boundaries varies depending on whether the sender is a family member, friend, work colleague or manager. Different strategies appear to be related to personal preferences, contextual variables such as workload, and the strategies of other colleagues and family members.
The Impact of Information Communication Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Undergoing Changes in Societal Norms as a Result of Access to ICTs
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Trisha Capansky
It is no coincidence that developing nations, who are witnesses to the financial benefit garnered by technological advances in western nations, are looking to emulate western communication practices in hopes of a similar outcome. Consequently, there is little doubt that a transformation in space and time ratios will occur within these developing regions. Yet, unlike in developed nations were the adaptation to contemporary communication platforms was arguably a three-hundred year process in the making, cultures in developing nations are undergoing changes that are controlled by how quickly outside investment can be secured and infrastructure can be put into place. With the adoption and popularity attributed to broadband technologies, the time gap is quickly narrowing. Emerging and developing countries present an unusual opportunity to examine electronic communication usage and impact on a culture. This proposed paper will provide an overview of our ongoing study on the impact of information communication technologies (ICTs) in sub-Saharan Africa. Data compiled from surveys disseminated within this region will be discussed with the question in mind: Does the technology change developing society and the types of communication, or is it simply providing a new means of transmission of the developing society’s norms of communication behavior?
