Or: For great hybrid.
(Or, translation: In the name of hybrid, I'll kinda try to explain something!)
Conversely: Kristin didn't understand a lick of this week's readings, and instead will try to ramble in an attempt to "get" hybrid spaces.
So, the bit I think I did get this week was in de Souza e Silva's "From Cyber to Hybrid" essay.
On page 763, dSeS talks about, basically, the shift from static interfaces to mobile interfaces, and how this shift forces us to take a look at what we consider "digital space." Size determines what we see as static and mobile -- do we have to sit at a computer to go online, or can we go online with our pocket PDA and cell phones? Then, perhaps, because of cultural experiences and the way we have grown up with accessing cyberspace, we see "Internet" as something restricted to static interfaces and solitary experiences, as with the home computer. In some cases, such as with Japanese teenagers who only go online with phones, they don't see it as accessing the Internet because it isn't behind a bulky computer (and, conversely, perhaps it isn't through Firefox or IE). In particular, because it is on-the-go and because it is seen as a component of their social spaces. Did digital space used to be only a static experience, once accessed through a desktop computer? Has digital space merged with social space as a result of our use of mobile media to access the Internet during "in-between" time and incorporating it with our day-to-day activities?
(*reads the rest of the prompt* ...ok... and then... ah!)
It's been a long day. My brain is ready to implode.
And I hear my husband playing "CoD: Modern Warfare 2" in the background, which is only wanting to drag me further away from this blog entry.
I support whatever dSeS said above. Or what I think she said. I think that there is a shift from static to mobile interface with regard to Internet access, thanks in no small part to items such as the iPhone. Or with netbooks and wireless cards.
I know I have resorted to neglecting my desktop unit, in part, because it's easier to jump on my laptop or my phone, do whatever Internet business I need to do, and go. Or handle the Internet business on my iPhone while between classes or in the car with Marcus (the aforementioned husband) at the wheel. I think, in part, this is also because my desktop is a 5-year-old beast in serious need of a video card upgrade. And because having the time to sit down at my workhorse and load it up and casually peruse the Intarwebs is something of a luxury for me, for most of us, in this go-go-go society we live in.
Also, because it is easier to incorporate my iPhone and all its handy apps into whatever I'm doing -- getting coffee, checking my bank account, checking in at WSU Tri-Cities -- than it would be to do all the same on my desktop (or, for that matter, on my laptop).
There is something to be said for the convenience that this shift from static to mobile offers us, and as a society that loooooooooooooves its convenience (same with Japan), it's no wonder that we are ever steadily embracing our mobile-social spaces.
That being said, I've been known to hesitate visiting social spaces if I know their 3G service is less-than-great. How else am I supposed to see what my friends are posting on each others walls, upload photos, how my crops are doing in Papaya Farm, read stories that aren't so average, and battle my generic Pokemans against your generic Pokemans???
With that, I'm out. I'm starting to use "their" and "there" interchangeably, which is never a good thing for a former-editor-turned-designer.
And I'm finding this lolcat funnier every time I look at it.
Enjoy.
5 comments:
I don't know why no one commented. That's sort of weird. I don't know if you scared them with your LOLcat? Unclear.
What don't you understand?
Kristin, I will comment on your post because I think what you have to say is interesting. I was struggling with this weeks reading but it could have something to do with I had sick kids and missed last week. Alas I had to read and interpret the article on my own. Usually not a good thing. However I truly use my mobile interface more than I do my desktop or lap top. It has become my mini computer in which I connect personally with friends, Academically(checking up on assignments and blog posts) and finally professionally(all my work appointments and email come through my phone) I am so connected sometimes that I long for the days when there was not computers in every house and phones were attached to the walls. Ok my little plug for when I am feeling overwhelmed with all of the things I need to get done and I no longer have an excuse that my dog ate my homework. We are connected all the time and our iphones, pda's blackberry's have made this connection much easier. Hope you have a great week. Nancy
this is one impressive post, specially the part about how your brain is going to implode i mean geez, that is just intense. anyways, i agree our culture is beginning to become infatuated with our small all in one devices. Why wouldnt we? so much more simple. we can do basically whatever we want in our hand, wait that sounded dirty, uhhhh...... ya so mobile good.
@JM I think mostly I just didn't understand why we were reading about microbiology in a class about digital theory. Once I got to class and we had the discussion on that reading in particular, I understood its significance in the bigger scheme w/r/t digital diversity.
That being said, too many big words and a week-long migraine make for very little understanding.
And my LOLcat probably did scare everyone away. Or the pokemans. Or the Japanese. Or some combination of the three... This will require more research!
Have you noticed that as the access tools get smaller the apps get more social. Case in point is Foursquare, and appears to be designed for the phone and to get you to go OUT. Even Twitter is more for those that are mobile. We can also add in Yelp too. Facebook...well it started out static (re:desktop) but the status (statuses, stati, status?) scream (only in ALL CAPS) to get you to tell us all about it. Sure we want to know the dish on your dog wearing the cone (because he was neutered), but we all respond to the party pics and poolside umbrella drink posts. Mobile doesn't imply moving about it IS MOVING ABOUT they aren't called STATIC phones are they?
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