PRP Essay - Network Society

Supervisor pg. 3
Abstract pg. 3
Introduction pg. 3
Research Method pg. 4
Literature Review and Works pg. 4
Discussion pg. 6
Conclusion pg. 9
References pg. 11
Bibliography pg. 10


SUPERVISOR
Simon Perkins
ABSTRACT

This paper looks at the effects technology has on society and how ‘Network Society’ enables free-choice. It is a collection of literature on the social effects of technology but also the effects technology has on society. It discusses the convergence and integration of technology.


INTRODUCTION

There has been acceleration in contemporary society that is characterised by change; it is these changes that have been caused through the development and innovation of new technologies. This change has created the development of the ‘Network Society’ (M. Castells, 1996). There is no longer a hierarchal embedded system in society and we are faced with the liberalistic autonomy that mobile communication technologies enable. It is this “free choice” that is said to be changing the social structure, but society is also changing the mobilisation of technologies.

How will multimedia technology engage safe autonomy in the future? How will this affect the social structure? What future technologies need to be implemented to cope with the vast expansion of Information available today? Is the explosion of online TV and advertising changing the way media companies implement technology to target audiences? Clearly there is vast empirical and exploratory scope to these questions.

‘The revival of interest in technology amongst sociologists can be accounted for by relatively new developments within both technology and sociology. Within technology, the advent of ‘the micro-chip revolution’, the growth of ‘information technology’, and the dawn of what is generally referred to as ‘new technology’ beckon sociologists with the implicit promise of the emergence of a new form of society’ (Graham Button, 1992).

Research suggests that we as a society are changing as an effect of this ‘Information Age’ but is it fragmenting our society or is the explosion of online networking bringing society together?

Throughout this paper I aim to research ‘Network Society’ how society is changing through technology and vice versa, it will also research the integration of Multimedia and the vital role it will play in modern society.
RESEARCH METHOD

The method that I have chosen to synthesise my research document primarily uses 'argument' to convey its meaning. I have constructed my argument from various references that I have sourced from a range of different places including: online, books, journals and online videos. The majority of my argument relies on journal articles because of the current nature of the content. This is also the reason that I have chosen to use online video clips. I am aware of the issues with using online resources but I feel that their limitation in terms of ‘robustness’ is outweighed by their prevalence and relevance to contemporary trends.

My research looks into the rapid expansion and implementation of technologies and its societal effects in contemporary society.
The core research of literature on sociology and technology is the centre of my thesis. The countless amounts of resources available on these core subjects have helped synthesise my argument.


LITERATURE REVIEW AND WORKS

The vast amounts of mobile communication and information available in advanced societies are creating an organic and embryonic ‘Network Society’. Users are adapting to this technology hence a change in social structure is happening.

‘The observed experience of wireless communication shows that people adapt the technology to their needs and interests. They invent new uses and even a new language...

...This fully replicates the experience of the Internet, but it is even more significant because the first users of the Internet were highly sophisticated, while the bulk of innovative users of wireless communication technology are kids and young people with no special technical skills, although they are, indeed, already a part of the network society.’ (Castells, 2006).

Castells views that we are entering a ‘Network Society’ do have significant weight to them, indeed we are entering an age where anybody can access information and communicate freely through this development of technology.

Dr Wael Salah Fahmi’s, ‘Planning in the Information Age’ (2001) also converges with this.
‘In the information-knowledge culture, existing urban order is being replaced by highly complex new networks. Therefore there is a need to deconstruct the contested (post)modern city’

This ‘Information Age’ is developing new opportunities for Multimedia to engage with society it is also causing modern society to adapt to this integration of mobile technologies.

Graham Button’s ‘Technology in Working Order: Studies of work, Interaction, and Technology’ talks about the integration of technology in society and how ‘video-mediated communication’ is changing the work environment.

‘Unlike a telephone or audio connection, video provides the opportunity for individuals visually to assess the availability of a colleague before initiating contact...

...An important element in EuroPARC’s recent initiatives is the development of an audio-visual infrastructure in its Cambridge offices. The infrastructure allows scientists and administrative staff to establish visual and audible contact with each other or to view public areas such as a commons area and the conference room’ (Graham Button, 1992).

This is a clear case of how technology is changing the social interaction of a work place, the integration of future technologies are having a direct impact on society, and the advancement of telecommunication systems is the cause of this social change. He talks about how the mediation of video in communication allows easier ways to engage and solve problems in a work environment.

Robert Mansell’s ‘Mobilizing the Information Society’ also talks about the integration of technology in society but he also talks about the dependency of new electronic devices and how they must integrate into this new infrastructure.

‘The availability of augmented mobile communication services, and services that are based upon home access to the information and communication infrastructure, depends upon the diffusion of new electronic devices and their integration into the infrastructure.’ (Robin Mansell, 2000).

Here he talks about how the rate of new services deployed are influencing existing standardised mobile technologies to upgrade, as these could be the favoured way for information to be accessed.

DISCUSSION

With the huge development and growth of information technologies in society it is not unforeseen that studies have been made on the relationship between society and technology. It is said that this growth is having a direct effect on the public sphere and that society is changing with this technological growth. (Laver, M. 1980)

This social interaction with computers for several hours a day is now a commonality in advanced societies, and this intense interfacing is causing the debate on whether this nodal interaction is having an impact on society. It is questioned that increased exposure to mobile communication technologies could be having detrimental as well as positive impact on today’s society (Herbert Spencer, 2007).

‘Merely because digital media is making people more connected does not mean it is increasing the degree of their social engagement’ (Herbert Spencer, 2007).

While researchers (M. Castells, R. Kraut) have focused on the analytical data of this social effect others (G. Button) have used empirical based field work enquires that have researched how society is affecting the implementation and development of future and existing multimedia technologies.

Although it is evident that these technologies enable us to socialise easier, it does not necessarily mean this socialisation improves an individual’s experience.

The major questions asked are “how will these mobile technologies effect society?”

‘A landmark study by Kraut, Scherlis, Patterson, Kiesler, and Mukhopadhyay (1998) found that heavy Internet users report higher levels of depression and isolation than non-Internet users’ (Kraut, 2006).

however Castells writes, “mobile communication seems to be contributing to the smoothing of tensions in the hyperactive family by allowing everybody (including children) to have his or her own daily schedule, while coordinating the sharing of family time”

He also writes ‘The subjects of communication processes considerably enhance their autonomy by using wireless communication systems. By this, we mean autonomy vis a vis spatial location, time constraints, and, to a large extent, social and cultural norms. This autonomy is both individual and collective’ (2006)

It is obvious that the convergence of communication technologies and computers are having a profound effect on all aspects of our day to day lives whether it’s commercial, political, domestic, or social. It is this convergence that raises important questions on society and technology, for instance the Coordination of EuroPARC’s recent initiatives (as previously talked about) in the development of an audio-visual infrastructure in their Cambridge offices. (G. Button, 1992) has enabled people in their work environment to communicate in a virtual environment using audio-visual technologies.

This innovation of ultra modern mobile technologies is also creating a “time-shift” in domestic society which is enabling families to accommodate more convenient time schedules. High speed internet connections are now available and on demand video is exploding into society. Although Levy’s analytical research in “Home video and the changing nature of the television audience” is dated (1988) by today standards, I believe it still has huge relevance in modern society.

‘Time-Shifting was the most popular use of home video. The average VCR household in the U.S made just over four recordings off-air per week, played back between three and four tapes of previously broadcast material, and watched less than one pre-recorded cassette which had been bought, hired or borrowed from outside sources. Movies were recorded and played back most often, followed by situation comedies and soap operas’ (Mark Levy, 1980).

With the growth of on-demand television, society is now adjusting to these technologies, and liberalism is increasing. The advent of ‘YouTube’ has caused a fragmentation in society that is nodal but also a shared experience.

Another important issue to look at with this integration of mobile technology is the increasing trend of people’s ability to work on the move, from cafes through to conference rooms, and even planes.

‘The average occupancy rate of commercial office space from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is between 30 per cent and 50 per cent.
The challenge for IT managers is how to support this ever-growing legion of far-flung workers with all of the tools and information they need to do their jobs, anytime, anywhere. (itcanadaworld.com, 2003).
Multimedia technology is making it possible for families to socialise easier; the broad availability of wireless technology is keeping families closer knit. Busy workers are now able to communicate easier through the use of this mobile technology.

‘There had been some fears that the Internet had been taking people away from each other, we found just the opposite.’
‘In the poll, 60 per cent of adults said that the new technologies did not affect the closeness of their family, while 25 per cent said cell phones and online communication made their families closer and 11 per cent said that the technology had a negative effect’ The Washington Post (2008)

Castells brings attention to this implementation of mobile technology and how on-the-fly professionals are now able to communicate easier.

‘This pattern of ‘safe autonomy’ also characterizes other sets of interpersonal relations as well as instrumental practices (for example, the professional worker who is always on the move, yet in touch with his or her base office)’ (Castells, 2006).

CONCLUSION

Through the synthesis of my research I have concluded that the introduction of mobile technologies is affecting our social structure. The integration of these mobile technologies is changing the way we live on a day to day basis and the introduction of new technologies is causing companies to think about upgrading their existing services for quicker mobilisation.

Families are now able to keep in touch and access information at any time, as well as contribute to it. It is this constant contribution that is creating the ‘Network Society’

Although wireless technologies were simply an alternative to the fixed-line method of communicating it is this mobile ability that has allowed society to constantly communicate and share information at any time. It is this ‘choice’ through technology that has diminished the hierarchal society, and caused an ‘Information Explosion’. We now have the ability to engage, share and contribute where we want and when we want to, however not only is technology affecting society, society is also affecting technology, it is a reciprocal mutual relationship that is constantly expanding.

This constant availability of information and the ability to communicate at all times is enabling endless possibilities in multimedia. However it is also this rapid advancement that could spell the decline of social physical interaction. For example what if you could work from home at all times and what if students attended lectures in virtual environments? This free choice could spark a selfish society that no longer cares about the collective but rather the individual, Just because we have the ability to network easier does not necessarily mean we are socialising more, its merely socialisation on a virtual plane.

I’ve concluded that the rapid growth of mobile technologies is causing a ‘Network Society’ and I believe this ‘Network Society’ is now affecting the development of technologies to enable this integration and mobilisation. We are no longer constrained to hierarchy and this is having, social, political and domestic effects within society.


REFERENCES
Mobilizing the Information Society: Strategies for Growth and Opportunity, Oxford University Press Pubished 2000. Robin Mansell
Technology in the working order: Studies of work, Interaction and Technology, Routeledge
Published 1993. Graham Button
Home Video and the changing nature of the Television Audience, Libbey.
Published 1988. Mark R. Levy.
Mobile Communication and Society, A Global Perspective, MIT Press
Published 2006, Manuel Castells.
Computers, Phones and the Internet, Oxford University Press
Published 2006. Robert Kraut.
Internet and Society, Routeledge
Published 2008, Christian Fuchs.
Digital Shock, Confronting the new reality, McGill-Queen's University Press
Published 2006, Herve Fischer.
, ‘Planning in the Information Age’ (2001) Dr Wael Salah Fahmi Online Journal.
From Connectivity to Collectivity, Design for Increased Social Agency,
Herbert Spencer (2006) Online Journal


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mobilizing the Information Society: Strategies for Growth and Opportunity, Oxford University Press Pubished 2000. Robin Mansell
Technology in the working order: Studies of work, Interaction and Technology, Routeledge
Published 1993. Graham Button
Home Video and the changing nature of the Television Audience, Libbey.
Published 1988. Mark R. Levy.
Mobile Communication and Society, A Global Perspective, MIT Press
Published 2006, Manuel Castells.
Computers, Phones and the Internet, Oxford University Press
Published 2006. Robert Kraut.
Internet and Society, Routeledge
Published 2008, Christian Fuchs.
Digital Shock, Confronting the new reality, McGill-Queen's University Press
Published 2006, Herve Fischer.