CROSSROADS IN CULTURAL STUDIES
Fourth International Conference
June 29 - July 2, 2002, Tampere, Finland

Internet Domestication Across Cultures

Organisers: Edgar Gómez, Maria Bakardjieva and Katie Ward

Gómez, Edgar (University of Colima, Mexico) CYBERSPACE: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC APPROACH TO A MEXICAN VIRTUAL COMMUNITY
Although a lot of studies about people using computer-mediated communication systems have been conducted, the majority of this research has been done in the U.S.A., Canada and Europe. This paper presents the results of a qualitative study of the BBS "El Club", grounded in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. The study discusses the concept of "virtual community" taking into account the characteristics of the sociocultural context of México. Using on line interviews and focus groups, the work tries to understand the use and appropriation of the system by the users, the construction of social relationships and the communication on it. This is one of the first studies of this kind in México.

Bakardjieva, Maria (University of Calgary, Canada) TAMING A WILD MEDIUM: THE MICROREGULATION OF THE INTERNET
This paper represents an effort to uncover the contribution of consumers to the shaping of the Internet as a communication medium by examining closely the immediate domestic context in which the new medium becomes incorporated. The arrival of the Internet in the home precipitates a process that could be seen as a regulation of the medium at the micro level of the home. This process involves making decisions about issues of placement, access, preferred, discouraged and forbidden activities on and through the Internet, allocation of resources, including time, space, money, attention, etc. The paper draws on the findings of an ethnographic study of domestic (home-based) Internet use conducted in Vancouver, Canada. Data was collection through in-depth interviews, and "tours" of the home and computer space of 19 lower-middle class households with Internet connections. The analysis of this material reveals three patterns of placement of the computer connected to the Internet in the home and the related negotiations of roles, rights and rules concerning its use: "the wired basement," "the family computer room" and "the gate in the living room." The paper discusses the different normative dichotomies underlying these patterns. It brings to the fore the intensive cultural production within the household, a production that is consequential for the public understanding of the medium.

Rajapillai, Vydhehi (University of Brighton, United Kingdom) EAST MEETS WEST: A STUDY IN CROSS CULTURAL COLLABORATION
With increasing interest shown towards distance learning and teaching, it is important to study the how academics interact, communicate and collaborate with other academics from different cultures. The paper discusses how Academics from universities in India and England have been collaborating to set up a project to enable students from each institution to share knowledge and experience through the use of various Internet technologies. As teaching and learning methodologies vary from institute to institute so do work practices of academics. The academics have attempted, with varying degree of success, to use email and groupware as well as face-to-face meetings to facilitate the planning of the project. Activity Theory provides a framework to explore an area where participants while all members of the academic community, are differentiated by geographically distant and culturally different contexts. Qualitative methodology was used to collect data for the study.

Svedmark Ikodomidis, Eva (Umeå University, Sweden) DOMESTICATION THROUGH VIRTUALIZATION
Social shaping of Technology is a newly awoken research field within science that strives to make understanding of our everyday interaction with technology. In the process of adapting to new technologies there are two terms that are essential - domestication and virtualisation. Domestication explains what happens when we first invite new technology into our homes. In this process we shape technology to make it suitable for our needs, and we shape our homes to make them suitable for the technology. Virtualisation takes the matter further. It suggests that it´s not when the technology comes to us, but when we move towards the technology that real interaction takes place. In this paper we meet Mats. His advanced virtualisation of information technology shows us that it´s possible to reach a point where we make no big distinction between the real world and the virtual. Fundamental about Mats use is that the technology has become almost transparent in its physical existence.

Croon Fors, Anna and Svedmark Ikodomidis, Eva (Umeå University, Sweden) THINGS AND DEVICES IN EVERY DAY USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Inspired by the work of Albert Borgmann this paper analyzes everyday uses of Information Technology and Internet. Making the distinction between the character of things and devices Borgmann's framework makes it possible to interpret some everyday uses of technology as a gathering of fourfold and others as instrumental. The analysis is conducted through the case of 'Angel-kids on-line. Examining the analytic difference of things and devices it is possible to address questions regarding dangers and potentials in everyday use of IT.