Title: Mobile Media and Cultural Concept of Time and Space
Communication theorist James Carey (1989) wrote about the impact that communication technologies have on culture. Carey was especially interested in examining the impact of the telegraph. According to Carey, the telegraph fundamentally changed the way people thought about time and space because this blend of communication and technology had the ability to diminish time and space. Carey argues that as a result of the telegraph, commerce and society underwent dramatic change, which involved everything from the creation of standard time zones to development of a national marketplace. Carey uses the telegraph as a metaphor for all advancements in communication and technology, a metaphor that came to dominate thoughts on communication. Using Carey’s metaphor as a theoretical basis, this paper explores the communication technologies that are currently impacting our ideas of time and space focusing specifically on mobile media and the mobile devices that allow users access to the internet and satellite technologies from an ever-expanding range of geographic locations. Mobile media devices such as smart phones, laptops and tablet computers will be discussed in addition to the growing number of applications, aka apps, which give these mobile devices their value and drive their popularity. Specific themes that will be explored include how instantaneous communication—made possible by mobile media—has impacted our communication habits (i.e. frequency, formality and mindfulness) and cultural concepts of time and space.
I. Introduction a. The role of media in our lives i. non-electronic ii. electronic (the extensions of man) b. As new forms of media are introduced changes can be in observed in what we do, how we do what we do an what we believe (communication and interaction) i. print (Eisenstein, 1980…) ii. telegraph, telephone (Carey, 1989; Marvin, 1990) iii. television (Williams, 1974) iv. internet/www
c. The history of media is the “history of their uses” (Marvin, 1990) d. The ways in which we use and access all these forms are now changing due to the increasing availability/affordability of mobile media devices and networks (Greenfield, 2006) e. Our increasing use and adaptation of mobile media has once again altered our ideas of time and space (then Carey explains the telegraph, today Greenfield explains “Everyware”) f. Roadmap for paper
II. Carey on communication technology a. The watershed moment: Invention of the telegraph b. How communication technology altered notions of time c. How communication technology altered notions of space d. McLuhan (1964) one electronic media and ideas of time and space (“electronic communication” has “abolish[ed] time and space”) e. Does the telegraph metaphor still hold up today with the emergence of mobile electronic media?
III. Mobile media a. Defining mobile media i. Definition ii. Early examples iii. Today’s examples b. Mobile Media Usage Today i. Who uses it? ii. What do they use it for? (“mobile lifestyle” Tamminen et al) iii. Mobile media as an industry (how the combination of devices, apps and cellular service has impacted the lives of those who have access) ("App culture", Pew) c. How the use of today’s mobile media has impacted individuals and society i. Instantaneous Communication ii. Communication habits 1. Frequency 2. Formality 3. Mindfulness iii. Cultural Concepts of time and space iv. The electronic revolution?
Title: Mobile Media and Cultural Concept of Time and Space
Communication theorist James Carey (1989) wrote about the impact that
communication technologies have on culture. Carey was especially
interested in examining the impact of the telegraph. According to
Carey, the telegraph fundamentally changed the way people thought
about time and space because this blend of communication and
technology had the ability to diminish time and space. Carey argues
that as a result of the telegraph, commerce and society underwent
dramatic change, which involved everything from the creation of
standard time zones to development of a national marketplace. Carey
uses the telegraph as a metaphor for all advancements in communication
and technology, a metaphor that came to dominate thoughts on
communication.
Using Carey’s metaphor as a theoretical basis, this paper explores the
communication technologies that are currently impacting our ideas of
time and space focusing specifically on mobile media and the mobile
devices that allow users access to the internet and satellite
technologies from an ever-expanding range of geographic locations.
Mobile media devices such as smart phones, laptops and tablet
computers will be discussed in addition to the growing number of
applications, aka apps, which give these mobile devices their value
and drive their popularity. Specific themes that will be explored
include how instantaneous communication—made possible by mobile
media—has impacted our communication habits (i.e. frequency, formality
and mindfulness) and cultural concepts of time and space.
I. Introduction
a. The role of media in our lives
i. non-electronic
ii. electronic (the extensions of man)
b. As new forms of media are introduced changes can be in observed in what we do, how we do what we do an what we believe (communication and interaction)
i. print (Eisenstein, 1980…)
ii. telegraph, telephone (Carey, 1989; Marvin, 1990)
iii. television (Williams, 1974)
iv. internet/www
c. The history of media is the “history of their uses” (Marvin, 1990)
d. The ways in which we use and access all these forms are now changing due to the increasing availability/affordability of mobile media devices and networks (Greenfield, 2006)
e. Our increasing use and adaptation of mobile media has once again altered our ideas of time and space (then Carey explains the telegraph, today Greenfield explains “Everyware”)
f. Roadmap for paper
II. Carey on communication technology
a. The watershed moment: Invention of the telegraph
b. How communication technology altered notions of time
c. How communication technology altered notions of space
d. McLuhan (1964) one electronic media and ideas of time and space (“electronic communication” has “abolish[ed] time and space”)
e. Does the telegraph metaphor still hold up today with the emergence of mobile electronic media?
III. Mobile media
a. Defining mobile media
i. Definition
ii. Early examples
iii. Today’s examples
b. Mobile Media Usage Today
i. Who uses it?
ii. What do they use it for? (“mobile lifestyle” Tamminen et al)
iii. Mobile media as an industry (how the combination of devices, apps and cellular service has impacted the lives of those who have access) ("App culture", Pew)
c. How the use of today’s mobile media has impacted individuals and society
i. Instantaneous Communication
ii. Communication habits
1. Frequency
2. Formality
3. Mindfulness
iii. Cultural Concepts of time and space
iv. The electronic revolution?
IV. Conclusion/Summary