Unpacking user relations in an emerging ubiquitous computing environment: introducing the bystander
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Research article
Unpacking user relations in an emerging ubiquitous computing environment: introducing the bystander Elaine Ferneley, Ben Light IS, Organisations and Society Research Centre, University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, UK Correspondence: E Ferneley, IS, Organisations and Society Research Centre, University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, UK. Tel: þ 44 161 295 5507; Fax: þ 44 161 745 819; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract The move towards technological ubiquity is allowing a more idiosyncratic and dynamic working environment to emerge that may result in the restructuring of information communication technologies, and changes in their use through different user groups’ actions. Taking a ‘practice’ lens to human agency, we explore the evolving roles of, and relationships between these user groups and their appropriation of emergent technologies by drawing upon Lamb and Kling’s social actor framework. To illustrate our argument, we draw upon a study of a UK Fire Brigade that has introduced a variety of technologies in an attempt to move towards embracing mobile and ubiquitous computing. Our analysis of the enactment of such technologies reveals that Bystanders, a group yet to be taken as the central unit of analysis in information systems research, or considered in practice, are emerging as important actors. The research implications of our work relate to the need to further consider Bystanders in deployments other than those that are mobile and ubiquitous. For practice, we suggest that Bystanders require consideration in the systems development life cycle, particularly in terms of design and education in processes of use. Journal of Information Technology (2008) 23, 163–175. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000123 Published online 12 February 2008 Keywords: mobile computing; user relations; bystanders; agency
Introduction s the increased mobility and pervasiveness of technology moves us towards the era of ubiquitous computing so, it is argued, new socio-technical challenges will emerge (Lyytinen and Yoo, 2002; Lyytinen et al., 2004). This notion of ubiquitous computing takes two forms: the ‘physical’ disappearance of the technology as the miniaturisation of devices and their integration with other everyday artefacts occurs and the ‘mental’ disappearance of the technology where users cease to recognise its presence (Weiser, 1991; Norman, 1998; Streitz and Nixon, 2005). Proponents of ubiquitous computing herald an era of ‘calm technology’ where a variety of services are available on an ‘any time, any where’ basis through a range of heterogenous resources (Weiser, 1991; Kleinrock, 1996; Weiser and Brown, 1997; Johanson et al., 2003; Russell et al., 2005; Gellersen, 2005). However, there is also considerable disquiet regarding the pervasiveness of such technology, it need to be constantly nurtured and the potential
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infringements of privacy it may impose in terms of both users’ temporal and physical persona
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