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.
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