"When we change the way we communicate, we change society"- Clay Shirky

Today, I had a day off from work and yet I was still replying to a few emails at 6pm.. but hey, it saves me from having to do it tomorrow. This, is workplace mobility- a term, referring to the blurred line between work time and home time. This of course would have social implications- a mixed bag of positive, negative and the extras that we're not yet decided upon. I wasn't doing anything at 6pm and I'd had some time off recently and felt the pressure to catch up. Plus, I had received one of the emails at 5.45pm (45mins into home-time territory) and so, if they could send one, I probably should too.

Pressure. We all feel it. This is one of the extras that comes with our mobile phones; not an optional feature. Having the newest phone, having Instagram, we need to be up to date with everything, because everyone else is. Mobile technology has sped up everything- comunication can be instant, I can post it from the palm of my hand; and so, everyone's lives have sped up. This is why people feel the need to take work home with them- they can't fall behind; and if everyone has this mindset then we are continuously striving for faster and more, with the thought that the 'other guy' is too. 

Once upon a time we all lived in caves, times have changed and people have adapted. Mobile technology is another change and it's here to stay- it's just something we need to accept. Though there is room for personalisation and development, as someone living in society, we must adapt to our surroundings in order to survive.

Ingrid Richardson (2007) is right- our mobiles are becoming accepted as almost a body part. It's no longer a privilege, it is so central to our being that we cannot function without it. Donna Haraway, it's official, we've become cyborgs. 

It's not all bad though.. Howard Rhiengold theorised that cyberspace would bring greatly increased levels of democracy and equality, which, as blogging has shown, it can. The power of collaboration can have may positive impacts. Let's look at this from a mobile perspective.. Say I'm at a concert and my friend Sam could not afford it; fear not Sam! I've just tweeted a few updates of the show, included some photos and have just MMS-ed you a clip of the band playing your favourite song. As Richard Ling believes, mobile communication has allowed those who cannot be physically present, to still participate. 

But at the end of the day, though Sam is included, she's still going to feel alone. It was Malcolm Gladwell who said "Poverty is not deprivation. It's isolation". This concept can too be applied to our not-so-humble-anymore mobile phones- without one, you are not deprived, you are just alone. 

Though even with one you can still feel alone, sometimes. Other times you feel a part of something great.

I suppose it depends on the day or situation..for yourself, for everyone, for society, and basically everything.

Not overwhelming at all...

It's a part of us now though, we just need to find balance. Mobile technology has such great potential, but like everything- we just need to learn how to use it for good and not for evil- or ideally, for the better of the world. [we can all dream]

Simulacra, Simulation

I've written blogs before- fashion, food, fitness..but not about Social Media itself. I mean, I may have a rant once every now and then about Facebook changing their privacy laws or proclaim my love for Instagram..but never have I ever devoted a whole blog to it- well until now.

Clark (2002) calls the blogosphere a "culture of upward mobility" based on the desire for recognition and approval. I'm not looking for acceptance from those who blog about Social Media and technology, yet now I am heading down the road to their micro-community. It's not that I have anything against those who find interest in this area; I just don't share their passion- well I thought I didn't, until I actually thought about it. 

I use Social Media several (...hundred) times a day, so how can I say I don't find interest in it? I believe many, including myself, have become naturalised in our use of technology and Social Media- it's always there, it's use within professions has grown, and still is growing, exponentially and I know that I, for one, would be incredibly lost should it up and disappear one day. We take it for granted, and in embedding is so deeply within our lives have in turn taken other things for granted too.. time, nature, etc. but that's another story.

The simulacrum is never what hides the truth - it is truth that hides the fact that there is none. The simulacrum is true.  -Ecclesiastes

It took me a little while to understand this. Oh Baudrillard, you really do know how to boggle minds.

My initial thought was 'this is just like a diary, I'm writing down my thoughts and opinions..it's nothing but an online version of a journal'. But no- it's much more than that..there are communities of bloggers, within those live micro-communities, there is a far deeper devotion and interest than a mere diary- the once-up-a-time imitation has passed through the 4 stages of simulacrum and simulation, to become a pure simulation- it's own "thing", basically. There is no true or false to blogging, this is not a 'fake' version of something else. It is not emulating a reality, it is itself within our reality; a part of it, and us.

Now that you're deep in thought and confusion... just think about what else has so comfortably embedded itself into our lives. Well, actually..we're the ones who have let it happen- and I for one would like to consciously recognise what else I have been taking for granted and rely so heavily on. I don't particularly  like confusion or feeling a lack of control.



Clark, J 2002, Deconstructing 'You've Got Blog'. Viewed January 4 2004,  <http://fawny.org/decon-blog.html>