Like many Canadians, I watched the riots in Vancouver live on television. And like all Canadians (except a few contemptible rioters) I'm greatly ashamed that this happened here. By now, we've heard theories on what prompted the riots - the current pet theory being that it was the acts of a few determined, premeditated vandals (or "anarchists") with drunken masses spurring them on. I think these things are more complicated and multifaceted than most discussions of the issue are acknowledging, so I won't attempt to offer a definitive take on the events.
Riots aren't a new phenomenon. But what did struck me most while watching the live footage was the great many people taking pictures on their mobile devices of the riot. At times, it seemed like a few number of vandals were surrounded by a wall of mobile-wielding people.
There were two types of these people - those who posed inanely for photos in front of the violence and those who were photodocumenting the experience. The latter group did not have the gleeful facial expressions proudly displayed by the former. The main difference between the two were that the first group were clearly enjoying the riot and possibly encouraging it, while the other group appeared to be shocked or enthralled by the events.
I can understand the allure of a riot. They are a rare and powerful spectacle. And if such an event happens in one's city there would be a certain amazement that would incline people to stop in their tracks and watch the unbelievable and dramatic events unfold.
This is what happened to me when I witnessed my first (and only) riot. I was a teenager backpacking through Europe when a riot broke out in downtown Athens. There were emotional crowds, yelling, fights, and fires. It was classic Greek drama staged in the streets. As a kid from the 'burbs, this experience was like nothing I had ever encountered, so I, like many others in the vicinity, stopped and stared at the events. It seems human nature to be inclined to document and communicate such remarkable events. As I did in Athens. If I'd had a mobile back then I would have been uploading pix and status updates online. Instead, I took pictures on the device of the era - film camera. And later I shared what I observed to friends via the appropriate medium of the time: postcards. So I understand to some degree the behaviour of these riot paparazzi.
But when the Athenian police arrived to break up the riot, I knew it was time to leave - as should have all Vancouverites once things clearly were out of hand. Some Vancoverites no doubt did leave the riot area early and others intervened to try to stop the rioters - but, as I noticed with the live footage, many stood by continuing to take pictures. The gawkers who remained on the scene prevented the police from stopping those causing the riot. Thus, these seeming passive witnesses also bare responsibility - and shame - for their role in the riot.
I've been trying to understand the behaviour of these people. Certainly, the spectacle of the event captivated some people past the point of feeling any civic responsibility. Copious liquor no doubt did so too. Perhaps there is also a degree of bravado in displaying evidence of one's eyewitness position to extraordinary events - history in the making. Also, as we have seen with other riots, people are also motivated to produce catch criminals in the act to provide evidence to the police. But I think there is more to than just these factors.
My research lately has examined how fundamental one's relationship is to place. Having a sense of place is central for humans as it is a leading way for us to know and remember our world. Such a violent upheaval of one's place - whether a neighbourhood, city, or country, would produce incredulity. As in 'I can't believe this is happening - here!!'
I think that taking pictures and videos of such shocking events is a way for people to comprehend the events and to make them real, whether or not they want the events to be real. The more attachment one feels to a place, the greater the reaction such an event would provoke. And hence I believe this leads to a compulsion to remain, to continue photo documenting the personal attack on one's place - and to stay until a degree of equilibrium is restored (or the degree of violence is untenable).
Doubtless not everyone's motivations were so benign, but I do think this helps to partially explain the recent events in Vancouver.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
In Memoriam: Liz Metcalfe, Digital Pioneer
Canadians often don't recount or adequately value their history, let alone their online history. It was through the efforts of people like Liz Metcalfe that Canadians have an online voice. Liz Metcalfe was involved in a variety of early Canadian projects that launched national online properties.
Liz was a digital pioneer for Canada. Last night, I found out that she was killed in a horrible traffic accident.
Liz began her Internet career in 1989 - long before the Netscape IPO and the meteoric dot.com days. She worked for such Internet collossi as Canada.com, Yahoo, Rogers, and AOL. She help these companies establish their initial presence in Canada. One of the first online portals in Canada's was launched under Liz's direction, Southam's Montreal Gazette portal.
With Rogers she helped launch Quicken.ca, one of Canada's first and largest financial websites (subsequently merged with Canadian Business). Her collaborative reports on Canadian online banking and brokerage offerings were significant in assisting Canadians to move their financial affairs online and spurring the companies to improve their online services. She also provided a stream of regular content for the website and helped develop phenomenally popular RRSP tools. With a background education in film and journalism and a love of technology, Liz was one of the first people to understand the unique nature of the Web medium - helping develop interactive features when most other companies were still offering brochureware.
At an individual level, Liz authored email newsletters and blogs long before they were a mainstay here. Under the various forms of her Media Gleaner she covered domestic and international and tech issues. She was a locus of information and her Facebook postings became topics for diverse, occasionally heated, discussion. An example of this was the purchase of Huffington Post by AOL that she reworked into a blog post
In addition to being one of Canada's leading digital pioneers, Liz was an incredible woman with an unbridled and diverse range of interests and passions. She was a science fiction aficionado - introducing me to such treasures as Ender's Game, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and filk music. She wrote scifi and poetry. Her love of motorcycling was chronicled in her blog, Moto-Mojo. Her solo road-trip through Belgium and France and resulting escapades were a riveting travelogue and vicarious delight.
Liz died on her motorcycle riding back from a charity event that she regularly participated in for Toronto's Rape Crisis Centre. Please consider making a donation in Liz's honour via her CanadaHelps WROAR Ride campaign page.
I owe so much of my Internet career to Liz. After graduating from Humber's Internet management program in 1999, I went to work for a start-up doing programming. It wasn't my cup of tea, but already the dot.com bubble was bursting, as were career opportunities. I really wanted to make content and direct the structure and offerings of websites. I applied for a job at AOL that I didn't get, but a colleague of Liz's referred my name to her. I got a call from Liz about a web producer opening for Quicken.ca. I never liked personal finance and had no background in it, but Liz was so engaging and encouraging, I decided to set up an interview.
I didn't show up. Normally, not showing up for an interview is a definitive act, but Liz called me back. She instinctively knew my concerns and convinced me that my skills and interests could be applied, so I interviewed and started working at Quicken.ca in 2000. Liz was right; it was a great opportunity. She and the Quicken team were excellent role models and teammates. We built an incredible, innovative website together. One of the projects that Liz and I worked on together that I'm most proud of is the University Planner - the first tool in Canada to use StatsCan data to help students calculate and plan for the actual cost of a university education.
Liz also offered daily guidance at our regular morning meetings that she set up. The team would discuss topical news and project details every morning. Through Liz, I learned how to write killer homepage teasers (among them the "Vince Carter teaser" where attaching a celebrity name to any topic guaranteed click-throughs).
The dot.com burst hit the Rogers' online properties hard, so we all moved on to other projects. If it wasn't for Liz, I would likely not have had the opportunity to be a web producer, a job that I loved.
It was Liz who shaped my love of understanding what users want and figuring out how to offer content and experiences to meet their needs. She gave me the career outlet to refine my skills and interests, which I continue to expand through my PhD studies.
On a personal level, Liz was a close friend to me and my family. Liz befriended everyone she met and managed to find time to support all her many friends. As my wife recalls, "You were such a thoughtful, generous person and a true friend. I'll never forget how you actually volunteered to read my tediously long master's thesis (not even my own husband would look at it) and made such kind and supportive comments. You will be greatly missed!"
On her Facebook page, Liz described herself as "an incurable optimist, a collection of contradictions and a cultural hybrid." It was these elements that made her not only a wonderful person to know but such an important person in the history of Canada's Internet.
We miss you Liz!
Update:
Here is Liz's obituary in the Toronto Star and a news story on Liz and the accident on Global.
Liz was a digital pioneer for Canada. Last night, I found out that she was killed in a horrible traffic accident.
Liz began her Internet career in 1989 - long before the Netscape IPO and the meteoric dot.com days. She worked for such Internet collossi as Canada.com, Yahoo, Rogers, and AOL. She help these companies establish their initial presence in Canada. One of the first online portals in Canada's was launched under Liz's direction, Southam's Montreal Gazette portal.
With Rogers she helped launch Quicken.ca, one of Canada's first and largest financial websites (subsequently merged with Canadian Business). Her collaborative reports on Canadian online banking and brokerage offerings were significant in assisting Canadians to move their financial affairs online and spurring the companies to improve their online services. She also provided a stream of regular content for the website and helped develop phenomenally popular RRSP tools. With a background education in film and journalism and a love of technology, Liz was one of the first people to understand the unique nature of the Web medium - helping develop interactive features when most other companies were still offering brochureware.
At an individual level, Liz authored email newsletters and blogs long before they were a mainstay here. Under the various forms of her Media Gleaner she covered domestic and international and tech issues. She was a locus of information and her Facebook postings became topics for diverse, occasionally heated, discussion. An example of this was the purchase of Huffington Post by AOL that she reworked into a blog post
In addition to being one of Canada's leading digital pioneers, Liz was an incredible woman with an unbridled and diverse range of interests and passions. She was a science fiction aficionado - introducing me to such treasures as Ender's Game, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and filk music. She wrote scifi and poetry. Her love of motorcycling was chronicled in her blog, Moto-Mojo. Her solo road-trip through Belgium and France and resulting escapades were a riveting travelogue and vicarious delight.
Liz died on her motorcycle riding back from a charity event that she regularly participated in for Toronto's Rape Crisis Centre. Please consider making a donation in Liz's honour via her CanadaHelps WROAR Ride campaign page.
I owe so much of my Internet career to Liz. After graduating from Humber's Internet management program in 1999, I went to work for a start-up doing programming. It wasn't my cup of tea, but already the dot.com bubble was bursting, as were career opportunities. I really wanted to make content and direct the structure and offerings of websites. I applied for a job at AOL that I didn't get, but a colleague of Liz's referred my name to her. I got a call from Liz about a web producer opening for Quicken.ca. I never liked personal finance and had no background in it, but Liz was so engaging and encouraging, I decided to set up an interview.
I didn't show up. Normally, not showing up for an interview is a definitive act, but Liz called me back. She instinctively knew my concerns and convinced me that my skills and interests could be applied, so I interviewed and started working at Quicken.ca in 2000. Liz was right; it was a great opportunity. She and the Quicken team were excellent role models and teammates. We built an incredible, innovative website together. One of the projects that Liz and I worked on together that I'm most proud of is the University Planner - the first tool in Canada to use StatsCan data to help students calculate and plan for the actual cost of a university education.
Liz also offered daily guidance at our regular morning meetings that she set up. The team would discuss topical news and project details every morning. Through Liz, I learned how to write killer homepage teasers (among them the "Vince Carter teaser" where attaching a celebrity name to any topic guaranteed click-throughs).
The dot.com burst hit the Rogers' online properties hard, so we all moved on to other projects. If it wasn't for Liz, I would likely not have had the opportunity to be a web producer, a job that I loved.
It was Liz who shaped my love of understanding what users want and figuring out how to offer content and experiences to meet their needs. She gave me the career outlet to refine my skills and interests, which I continue to expand through my PhD studies.
On a personal level, Liz was a close friend to me and my family. Liz befriended everyone she met and managed to find time to support all her many friends. As my wife recalls, "You were such a thoughtful, generous person and a true friend. I'll never forget how you actually volunteered to read my tediously long master's thesis (not even my own husband would look at it) and made such kind and supportive comments. You will be greatly missed!"
On her Facebook page, Liz described herself as "an incurable optimist, a collection of contradictions and a cultural hybrid." It was these elements that made her not only a wonderful person to know but such an important person in the history of Canada's Internet.
We miss you Liz!
Update:
Here is Liz's obituary in the Toronto Star and a news story on Liz and the accident on Global.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Libraries and the Mobile Web 2.0
Earlier this year, I looked at the convergence of social media and mobile library applications. I found this was an area that could have a lot of potential to augment information services, but found little innovation in this area. The intersection of increasing user involvement in creating, finding, and sharing their own information, combined with the direct and ubiquitous access of mobiles has prompted discussion in library literature, but it appears little action - yet.
It appears that initial usage of social media by libraries focused on promotion and communication between librarians and patrons. For example, social networking sites, podcasts, and blogs were used to share library information and news (e.g., location, hours, new collections, events, etc.).
Libraries are also using social media to build a sense of community around the library through such means as book blogs and online forums (for example, a book club). Rather than focus on specific technologies, Rutherford attempted to examine the role of social media by libraries (2008). She interviewed public librarians and found social media used for four main purposes: 1) community development, 2) patron outreach and acquisition, 3) communication expansion, and 4) power distribution.
Rutherford found on the whole, that social media was not often used by libraries, and when it was, that it was used predominantly in a limited way. For example, libraries are allowing patrons to comment on library information or submit questions in new ways, but are not offering users the functionality to create content. This may be due to the profession wishing to maintain expertise and information authority and accuracy standards (Rutherford, 2008).
My review of the literature revealed the following types of social media usage by libraries:
In January 2010, Library Thing released their Library Anywhere mobile application that connects a library's online public access catalog (OPAC with Library Thing’s user-supplied rating and review data.
Similarly, SirsiDynix upgraded their BookMyne mobile application in November 2010 to add social recommendation data provided by the book social network Goodreads. Such user-generated metadata has been added as an information overlay of OPAC displays before. This functionality allows users to see how others have tagged a book and browse resources tagged similarly.
In addition to social metadata, researchers have found that mobile users want to annotate information resources for individual organization and/or social sharing. Amazon has demonstrated the potential of harnessing collective annotations Their e-Reader, Kindle, has a highlights feature that allows users to upload their e-book highlights. Amazon aggregates these highlights to display the collective sense of a work’s key passages.
The importance for libraries to offer similarly innovative functionality is highlighted by Lippincott who wonders,
It appears that initial usage of social media by libraries focused on promotion and communication between librarians and patrons. For example, social networking sites, podcasts, and blogs were used to share library information and news (e.g., location, hours, new collections, events, etc.).
Libraries are also using social media to build a sense of community around the library through such means as book blogs and online forums (for example, a book club). Rather than focus on specific technologies, Rutherford attempted to examine the role of social media by libraries (2008). She interviewed public librarians and found social media used for four main purposes: 1) community development, 2) patron outreach and acquisition, 3) communication expansion, and 4) power distribution.
Rutherford found on the whole, that social media was not often used by libraries, and when it was, that it was used predominantly in a limited way. For example, libraries are allowing patrons to comment on library information or submit questions in new ways, but are not offering users the functionality to create content. This may be due to the profession wishing to maintain expertise and information authority and accuracy standards (Rutherford, 2008).
My review of the literature revealed the following types of social media usage by libraries:
- collaborative information filtering and recommendation via user-generated ratings and reviews and collective usage data)
- enhanced information retrieval via user-generated metadata and social search
- content and annotation creation by users individually and collectively (e.g., via wikis, blogs)
- information sharing via social networking sites and syndication.
In January 2010, Library Thing released their Library Anywhere mobile application that connects a library's online public access catalog (OPAC with Library Thing’s user-supplied rating and review data.
Similarly, SirsiDynix upgraded their BookMyne mobile application in November 2010 to add social recommendation data provided by the book social network Goodreads. Such user-generated metadata has been added as an information overlay of OPAC displays before. This functionality allows users to see how others have tagged a book and browse resources tagged similarly.
In addition to social metadata, researchers have found that mobile users want to annotate information resources for individual organization and/or social sharing. Amazon has demonstrated the potential of harnessing collective annotations Their e-Reader, Kindle, has a highlights feature that allows users to upload their e-book highlights. Amazon aggregates these highlights to display the collective sense of a work’s key passages.
The importance for libraries to offer similarly innovative functionality is highlighted by Lippincott who wonders,
Will libraries move quickly to implement strategies for mobile devices, moving beyond pilot projects, such as SMS text message in reference, that address only one segment of user needs? Will the library be perceived as less and less central to the academy’s content needs? (p. 212)
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Portable Device Purchase Paralysis
For the past few months, I have wanted to purchase a portable computing device but have been paralyzed by an inability to determine what best to buy. I don't have the budget to buy everything, so I've been trying to decide whether to buy a tablet, e-reader, or netbook. Recently our laptop computer has been gravely ill and so this adds to my purchase dilemma.
Basically, my requirements for a portable device is that it facilitates reading, note-taking, word processing, and Internet browsing. I'd also like something that plays DVDs as this has proven invaluable for entertaining my daughter when direly needed.
Media coverage and reviews of these devices hasn't helped me choose what to buy. Fortunately, my faculty provides loaners of tablets, netbooks, and e-readers, so I have been able to take these out for a test drive.
Recently, I tried an iPad for a few days. My faculty doesn't have an iPad 2, but from what I gather iPad 2 significantly differs in offering more content creation functionality. As this isn't essential for me, the original iPad seemed like it would meet most of my needs.
Within a few moments of using the iPad, I was greatly impressed on how user-friendly and intuitive it is. I have never used touchscreen devices beyond various service kiosks or amusements, but I was able to start using it within seconds. I have seen demos and tried it on in stores so I wasn't completely new on what to do, but considering how limited my prior experience was, the ease of use is a sufficient accomplishment.
Apple's user experience (UX) status is legendary, but my prior (all bad) experiences with Mac and the cultish fervour of Apple devotees had put me off Apple for years. I didn't have an instruction manual or getting started guide (not that these have historically been particularly useful). So it did take me trial-and-error playing around to figure out some operational functions.
Overall, I found the iPad to be a great content consumption device as hyped. The display of graphics and documents are better than any other mobile device or even a regular desktop computer I've encountered. Graphics looked amazing! I was also very impressed with how quickly programs load and close. The touch interface to read documents is incredible - it is so easy to turn pages, adjust display size, or to zoom in.
The device also passed the public transit test. On a crowded bus or subway, it is impossible to use most devices except smartphones. I even found it annoying to use a netbook without a stable surface to set it on - so using it at live events or lectures is often difficult. But the iPad in contrast, due to its size, weight, and on-screen keyboard enable it to be used in the less-than-ideal environments that I frequent.
Even though the device itself was relatively easy and convenient to use, there were some serious usability problems. The iPod doesn't handle direct light well, as I found the Kobo e-reader did. I was surprised that I couldn't view at all the screen with my sunglasses on (the polarizations must not like each other) which is a real pain in sunny conditions. The omnipresent fingerprints on the screen also drove me crazy.
The device seems to have problems discerning a precise location of a user's touch. This was a huge problem when trying to edit notes as it seems impossible to direct the cursor to the middle of a word. Similarly, web-browsing was unnecessarily painful as it was often too difficult to click on links or open menus.
The two things that I most hated with the iPad were the difficulty in typing and the inability to import photos any way without an iTunes account. I read a workaround to avoid using iTunes to import photos, but really it shouldn't be necessary. I definitely would like a USB port, which would make importing photos and connecting to other devices much easier. The difficulty in typing is a major barrier as I need to regularly take notes at live events or lectures or to compose blog posts and papers. I found the on-screen keyboard lacked any way to non-visually confirm that my fingers were correctly positioned. As a result, I made more errors. Also one had to toggle to another keyboard screen for the number and other keys, which slowed me down way too much.
Other annoying things with the iPad were the lack of a spell-checker, the inability to have two programs running simultaneously, and a lack of persistent application menus (or at least an easy way to recall them).
Still of all the devices I've recently test driven, I am leaning to an iPad. Each device has its advantages, but as I can only afford one I need something with more functionality than an e-Reader offers. Netbooks are better for typing than an iPad but aren't as flexibly usable as iPods, nor is reading on them as good. I'm not considering RIM's tablet, PlayBook, as it is too small and I want to have access to the latest and most innovative apps as seems best with Apple.
Although the iPad may be the best option, I am unconvinced that the problems outweigh the cost. I find typing to be so difficult that it is a deal-breaker for me.
This all may be a moot point, however. Recently the Toronto Transit Commission has put up posters advising riders not to use electronic devices due to theft. I ride the TTC regularly and have never perceived theft problem, but it must be for the TTC to post warnings. At least no one will wants to steal my print-outs, course books, or notepads. So I'll probably have to make do with just old tech and my smartphone for awhile longer.
Basically, my requirements for a portable device is that it facilitates reading, note-taking, word processing, and Internet browsing. I'd also like something that plays DVDs as this has proven invaluable for entertaining my daughter when direly needed.
Media coverage and reviews of these devices hasn't helped me choose what to buy. Fortunately, my faculty provides loaners of tablets, netbooks, and e-readers, so I have been able to take these out for a test drive.
Recently, I tried an iPad for a few days. My faculty doesn't have an iPad 2, but from what I gather iPad 2 significantly differs in offering more content creation functionality. As this isn't essential for me, the original iPad seemed like it would meet most of my needs.
Within a few moments of using the iPad, I was greatly impressed on how user-friendly and intuitive it is. I have never used touchscreen devices beyond various service kiosks or amusements, but I was able to start using it within seconds. I have seen demos and tried it on in stores so I wasn't completely new on what to do, but considering how limited my prior experience was, the ease of use is a sufficient accomplishment.
Apple's user experience (UX) status is legendary, but my prior (all bad) experiences with Mac and the cultish fervour of Apple devotees had put me off Apple for years. I didn't have an instruction manual or getting started guide (not that these have historically been particularly useful). So it did take me trial-and-error playing around to figure out some operational functions.
Overall, I found the iPad to be a great content consumption device as hyped. The display of graphics and documents are better than any other mobile device or even a regular desktop computer I've encountered. Graphics looked amazing! I was also very impressed with how quickly programs load and close. The touch interface to read documents is incredible - it is so easy to turn pages, adjust display size, or to zoom in.
The device also passed the public transit test. On a crowded bus or subway, it is impossible to use most devices except smartphones. I even found it annoying to use a netbook without a stable surface to set it on - so using it at live events or lectures is often difficult. But the iPad in contrast, due to its size, weight, and on-screen keyboard enable it to be used in the less-than-ideal environments that I frequent.
Even though the device itself was relatively easy and convenient to use, there were some serious usability problems. The iPod doesn't handle direct light well, as I found the Kobo e-reader did. I was surprised that I couldn't view at all the screen with my sunglasses on (the polarizations must not like each other) which is a real pain in sunny conditions. The omnipresent fingerprints on the screen also drove me crazy.
The device seems to have problems discerning a precise location of a user's touch. This was a huge problem when trying to edit notes as it seems impossible to direct the cursor to the middle of a word. Similarly, web-browsing was unnecessarily painful as it was often too difficult to click on links or open menus.
The two things that I most hated with the iPad were the difficulty in typing and the inability to import photos any way without an iTunes account. I read a workaround to avoid using iTunes to import photos, but really it shouldn't be necessary. I definitely would like a USB port, which would make importing photos and connecting to other devices much easier. The difficulty in typing is a major barrier as I need to regularly take notes at live events or lectures or to compose blog posts and papers. I found the on-screen keyboard lacked any way to non-visually confirm that my fingers were correctly positioned. As a result, I made more errors. Also one had to toggle to another keyboard screen for the number and other keys, which slowed me down way too much.
Other annoying things with the iPad were the lack of a spell-checker, the inability to have two programs running simultaneously, and a lack of persistent application menus (or at least an easy way to recall them).
Still of all the devices I've recently test driven, I am leaning to an iPad. Each device has its advantages, but as I can only afford one I need something with more functionality than an e-Reader offers. Netbooks are better for typing than an iPad but aren't as flexibly usable as iPods, nor is reading on them as good. I'm not considering RIM's tablet, PlayBook, as it is too small and I want to have access to the latest and most innovative apps as seems best with Apple.
Although the iPad may be the best option, I am unconvinced that the problems outweigh the cost. I find typing to be so difficult that it is a deal-breaker for me.
This all may be a moot point, however. Recently the Toronto Transit Commission has put up posters advising riders not to use electronic devices due to theft. I ride the TTC regularly and have never perceived theft problem, but it must be for the TTC to post warnings. At least no one will wants to steal my print-outs, course books, or notepads. So I'll probably have to make do with just old tech and my smartphone for awhile longer.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Elegy for Yahoo
I remember when there was no Google and Yahoo ruled the roost. Google clearly dominates now in functionality and commercial success, but over the years I've maintained a devotion to Yahoo that began even before there was a Google. My experience with Yahoo, however, provides a lesson of how to lose customers and also reflects Yahoo's progressive irrelevance.
When I first signed on to the Internet in 1997 it was via Yahoo (at the public library even). I even signed up for a Yahoo email account before I even knew anyone who could email me. Over the years, I relied and loved Yahoo's calendar, notepad, document storage service, photo albums, toolbar, and of course their search directory service.
My odd email moniker for Yahoo seem destined. Even before my wife and I had Internet access, I told my wife in my sleep one day to email me. When she asked what my email address was I answered appropriately (and without irony as I was asleep): glen @ sleep. When my wife told me of my somnolent discussion, it inspired me to get an email account. Shortly thereafter, I was at the local library and when I went to create my email account, I mistyped my username. The name stuck even when I was later able to open other Yahoo usernames with more indicative usernames.
Even as bigger and better services came along I stuck with my Yahoo account. This was partly due to the time and learning curve to fully switch over to a new service, but also for sentimental and brand loyalty reasons.
As Yahoo shut down services or failed to innovate sufficiently, I was forced to switch to other services. First Yahoo shut down their photo album service and encouraged people to move over to their recently-purchased service Flickr, but with restrictive caps. So I moved to PhotoBucket and Facebook albums. Then Yahoo's document storage service, Briefcase, shut down and I moved to Google Docs. Then, as I started subscribing to more email newsletters, Yahoo did not have enough or sufficiently sophisticated filter mechanisms to prevent regular email avalanches. So I opened a Gmail account for my newsletters even though I don't like a lot of Gmail's interface.
It was just this week, however, that Yahoo dealt their own death blow with their "upgrade" to their calendar feature. As I juggle an endless barrage of events related to my studies, professional career, and my family life I rely daily on my online calendar. When I got my smartphone BlackBerry, I loved how the device's calendar synched (comparatively easily - via firewire) with the Yahoo calendar and email. I don't know how I could manage now my completely chaotic schedule without this functionality.
When Yahoo recently updated their calendar, they decided not to initially support BlackBerry synching anymore or even give an expected date for said functionality. Of course they didn't say this anywhere; I just kept getting cryptic error messages and had to spend way too long figuring out what the problem was through user forums.
Google offered full support for BlackBerry synching of calendar and email - and even does it wirelessly. Wireless synching is such a huge benefit that I can't imagine how I managed to plug in to synch.
As Yahoo compelled me to switch my calendar to Google and as I have already been using so many other Google services (such as for this blog), I figured it was easier to move all my remaining Yahoo account features over to those offered by Google.
So thus ends a relationship with a company that was so formative to my Internet experience. I'm going to miss my long-time bizarre email address (it felt odd to recreate an error to use it on Gmail). I would love to continue using Yahoo, if only to help the company maintain its David vs.Goliath status against Google and Microsoft. But ultimately user experience is more crucial than brand loyalty.
When I first signed on to the Internet in 1997 it was via Yahoo (at the public library even). I even signed up for a Yahoo email account before I even knew anyone who could email me. Over the years, I relied and loved Yahoo's calendar, notepad, document storage service, photo albums, toolbar, and of course their search directory service.
My odd email moniker for Yahoo seem destined. Even before my wife and I had Internet access, I told my wife in my sleep one day to email me. When she asked what my email address was I answered appropriately (and without irony as I was asleep): glen @ sleep. When my wife told me of my somnolent discussion, it inspired me to get an email account. Shortly thereafter, I was at the local library and when I went to create my email account, I mistyped my username. The name stuck even when I was later able to open other Yahoo usernames with more indicative usernames.
Even as bigger and better services came along I stuck with my Yahoo account. This was partly due to the time and learning curve to fully switch over to a new service, but also for sentimental and brand loyalty reasons.
As Yahoo shut down services or failed to innovate sufficiently, I was forced to switch to other services. First Yahoo shut down their photo album service and encouraged people to move over to their recently-purchased service Flickr, but with restrictive caps. So I moved to PhotoBucket and Facebook albums. Then Yahoo's document storage service, Briefcase, shut down and I moved to Google Docs. Then, as I started subscribing to more email newsletters, Yahoo did not have enough or sufficiently sophisticated filter mechanisms to prevent regular email avalanches. So I opened a Gmail account for my newsletters even though I don't like a lot of Gmail's interface.
It was just this week, however, that Yahoo dealt their own death blow with their "upgrade" to their calendar feature. As I juggle an endless barrage of events related to my studies, professional career, and my family life I rely daily on my online calendar. When I got my smartphone BlackBerry, I loved how the device's calendar synched (comparatively easily - via firewire) with the Yahoo calendar and email. I don't know how I could manage now my completely chaotic schedule without this functionality.
When Yahoo recently updated their calendar, they decided not to initially support BlackBerry synching anymore or even give an expected date for said functionality. Of course they didn't say this anywhere; I just kept getting cryptic error messages and had to spend way too long figuring out what the problem was through user forums.
Google offered full support for BlackBerry synching of calendar and email - and even does it wirelessly. Wireless synching is such a huge benefit that I can't imagine how I managed to plug in to synch.
As Yahoo compelled me to switch my calendar to Google and as I have already been using so many other Google services (such as for this blog), I figured it was easier to move all my remaining Yahoo account features over to those offered by Google.
So thus ends a relationship with a company that was so formative to my Internet experience. I'm going to miss my long-time bizarre email address (it felt odd to recreate an error to use it on Gmail). I would love to continue using Yahoo, if only to help the company maintain its David vs.Goliath status against Google and Microsoft. But ultimately user experience is more crucial than brand loyalty.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Discovering Discovery 2011
Silicon Valley like its metallic namesake is shiny and alluring to those in the tech and digital media sector. In comparisson, Ontario often seems dull and staid. Although Canada has had its share of tech and Net success stories over the years, the news and blogs are saturated with coverage of the happenings in the Valley. Often Canadian tech companies are only covered in mainstream media when they sell out or move down south.
I have felt that Canada, and Ontario in particular, needs to do more to chronicle, honour, and foster our own companies and entrepreneurs. In my small way, I've attempted to help by compiling a list of Canadian Internet luminaries and success stories. I was thus happy to learn about Discovery 2011 conference and tradeshow this week in Toronto.
The conference in its sixth year is organized by Ontario Centres of Excellence. OCE's mandate is to foster innovation in Ontario and help commercialize local research. I'm glad I went to this conference as it was a refreshingly interesting and useful. Most of the tech and Internet conferences I've been to in Toronto generally suffer from being too focused on marketing and miss other crucial components. This conference had an excellent blend of presentations and demonstrations on new innovations, policy discussions, and social and business condiserations.
Due to scheduling conflicts I wasn't able to make it to all the events I would have liked (such as Bill Buxton's keynote). The conference and tradeshow represented a huge cross-section of topics from infastructure, sustainable development, healthcare, and media. It also attracted a wide range of attendees from inventors, investors, students, professors, business execs, start-up founders and representatives of government & NGO programs. I find this a good mix and led to much more interesting conversations than I usually encounter at conferences.
As a side note, it was interesting to hear from academics who have left academia for corporate research or to start their own companies. I don't have entrepreunerial drive, but it was encouraging to talk to people who were able to put their PhDs to good use outside the ivory tower. I received a lot of encouragement to build an app for my dissertation, with BumpTop frequently provided to me as an example of a fellow UofT grad student who very successfully commericialized his thesis.
The mix of topics and attendees (2600 of them) did result that in some presentations not necessarily appealing directly to the interests of all attendees. As such, there were keynotes that weren't up my alley. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty briefly mentioned Canada's history of innovation "from Imax to pablum and insulin to goalie masks" but his talk was largely on the importance of water (the conference was held in conjunction with H20: Ontario Global Water Leadership Summit). Similarly, David G. Thomson's keynote on how to take one's company to billion dollar revenue sadly wasn't particularly applicable to me.
The Future is 3D and it's here (in Ontario)
The event also hosted the subconference Ontario Projection: Advances in 3D. I initially figured that this would also be an area not relevant to my research on mobile media, but I attended sessions nonetheless as I cannot resist the allure of 3D. But the first panel asserted that the largest growth area for 3D content will be on mobile devices (ahead of film, tv, and gaming). One panelist predicts that mobile devices will offer ubiquitous 3D functionality before televisions. Having mostly encountered 3D through the animated feature films or amusement attarctions I attended with my young daughter, I admit I hadn't taken 3D media particularly seriously nor had I considered the possible implications for my research.
What I particularly liked about the presentations at the 3D conference is the points were backed by screenings. One such example was given by contrasting a Lexus commercial in 2D and then again in 3D. I found the first version boring and nondescript. It was also visually unappealing as it largely monochromatic, i.e. a white car against a white backdrop. I am not into gimmicks (or cars for that matter) but the 3D version was a completely different experience. The shots of car interiour were really immersive - I felt I was in the driver seat (and one much higher-end than I usually drive). When the presenter, James Stewart, polled the audience on their preference, it was unamimous that the 3D vesion was superior. Steward added that this finding has been backed up by audience studies.
The defining moment for me came when Stewart screened a clip Werner Herzog's new 3D film Cave of Forgotten Dreams about France's ancient cave drawings. Stewart asked "Who wants to look at a wall in 2D?" and the clip was so remarkably rich and detailed that the answer was conclusive - we all will.
Although I do think 3D has the potential to be more immersive, realistic, and engaging than 2D, I though that much of the effect was due to the novelty of the experience. As Stewart replied however that this was also the case for HD television. Initially, we were wowed by HD nature shows and sportcasts but now we appreciate in much broader genres. This is certainly my experience from being blown away by HD coverage of Vancouver's Winter Olympics to now wanting even my sitcoms to be in HD. The conference raised a lot of the obstacles that need to be overcome before we see widespread 3D, such as removing the need for glasses, avoiding headaches and blurring for those with vision problems, and the need for artistic maturity. I am glad to see Ontario taking a leading role, including my alma mater York University's 3D FLIC project.
Mobiles - Where's the new gold rush?
The conference offered a mobile website. A mobile app or site could be a tremendous aid to getting speaker and session info, wayfinding, and networking, but in this instance the execution was rather basic and buggy. But mobile technology was well addressed by a panel on the "App Revolution" moderated by Kunal Gupta (Polar Media) with Amar Varma (Extreme Ventures), Anand Agarawala (Google, formerly BumpTop), Krista Napier (IDC), and Michele Perras (MEIC & Transcontinental). To provide proof of the recent tech revolution, Gupta presented a selection of old versus new contrasts: Mubarak vs. #egypt, Blockbuster vs. Netflix, Ken Jennings vs. Watson.
I have felt that Canada, and Ontario in particular, needs to do more to chronicle, honour, and foster our own companies and entrepreneurs. In my small way, I've attempted to help by compiling a list of Canadian Internet luminaries and success stories. I was thus happy to learn about Discovery 2011 conference and tradeshow this week in Toronto.
The conference in its sixth year is organized by Ontario Centres of Excellence. OCE's mandate is to foster innovation in Ontario and help commercialize local research. I'm glad I went to this conference as it was a refreshingly interesting and useful. Most of the tech and Internet conferences I've been to in Toronto generally suffer from being too focused on marketing and miss other crucial components. This conference had an excellent blend of presentations and demonstrations on new innovations, policy discussions, and social and business condiserations.
Due to scheduling conflicts I wasn't able to make it to all the events I would have liked (such as Bill Buxton's keynote). The conference and tradeshow represented a huge cross-section of topics from infastructure, sustainable development, healthcare, and media. It also attracted a wide range of attendees from inventors, investors, students, professors, business execs, start-up founders and representatives of government & NGO programs. I find this a good mix and led to much more interesting conversations than I usually encounter at conferences.
As a side note, it was interesting to hear from academics who have left academia for corporate research or to start their own companies. I don't have entrepreunerial drive, but it was encouraging to talk to people who were able to put their PhDs to good use outside the ivory tower. I received a lot of encouragement to build an app for my dissertation, with BumpTop frequently provided to me as an example of a fellow UofT grad student who very successfully commericialized his thesis.
The mix of topics and attendees (2600 of them) did result that in some presentations not necessarily appealing directly to the interests of all attendees. As such, there were keynotes that weren't up my alley. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty briefly mentioned Canada's history of innovation "from Imax to pablum and insulin to goalie masks" but his talk was largely on the importance of water (the conference was held in conjunction with H20: Ontario Global Water Leadership Summit). Similarly, David G. Thomson's keynote on how to take one's company to billion dollar revenue sadly wasn't particularly applicable to me.
The Future is 3D and it's here (in Ontario)
The event also hosted the subconference Ontario Projection: Advances in 3D. I initially figured that this would also be an area not relevant to my research on mobile media, but I attended sessions nonetheless as I cannot resist the allure of 3D. But the first panel asserted that the largest growth area for 3D content will be on mobile devices (ahead of film, tv, and gaming). One panelist predicts that mobile devices will offer ubiquitous 3D functionality before televisions. Having mostly encountered 3D through the animated feature films or amusement attarctions I attended with my young daughter, I admit I hadn't taken 3D media particularly seriously nor had I considered the possible implications for my research.
What I particularly liked about the presentations at the 3D conference is the points were backed by screenings. One such example was given by contrasting a Lexus commercial in 2D and then again in 3D. I found the first version boring and nondescript. It was also visually unappealing as it largely monochromatic, i.e. a white car against a white backdrop. I am not into gimmicks (or cars for that matter) but the 3D version was a completely different experience. The shots of car interiour were really immersive - I felt I was in the driver seat (and one much higher-end than I usually drive). When the presenter, James Stewart, polled the audience on their preference, it was unamimous that the 3D vesion was superior. Steward added that this finding has been backed up by audience studies.
The defining moment for me came when Stewart screened a clip Werner Herzog's new 3D film Cave of Forgotten Dreams about France's ancient cave drawings. Stewart asked "Who wants to look at a wall in 2D?" and the clip was so remarkably rich and detailed that the answer was conclusive - we all will.
Although I do think 3D has the potential to be more immersive, realistic, and engaging than 2D, I though that much of the effect was due to the novelty of the experience. As Stewart replied however that this was also the case for HD television. Initially, we were wowed by HD nature shows and sportcasts but now we appreciate in much broader genres. This is certainly my experience from being blown away by HD coverage of Vancouver's Winter Olympics to now wanting even my sitcoms to be in HD. The conference raised a lot of the obstacles that need to be overcome before we see widespread 3D, such as removing the need for glasses, avoiding headaches and blurring for those with vision problems, and the need for artistic maturity. I am glad to see Ontario taking a leading role, including my alma mater York University's 3D FLIC project.
Mobiles - Where's the new gold rush?
The conference offered a mobile website. A mobile app or site could be a tremendous aid to getting speaker and session info, wayfinding, and networking, but in this instance the execution was rather basic and buggy. But mobile technology was well addressed by a panel on the "App Revolution" moderated by Kunal Gupta (Polar Media) with Amar Varma (Extreme Ventures), Anand Agarawala (Google, formerly BumpTop), Krista Napier (IDC), and Michele Perras (MEIC & Transcontinental). To provide proof of the recent tech revolution, Gupta presented a selection of old versus new contrasts: Mubarak vs. #egypt, Blockbuster vs. Netflix, Ken Jennings vs. Watson.
The market for mobile media is anticipated to increase as more smartphones will be shipped this year in Canada than traditional cellphones. But as Perras acknowledged the fragmentation of devices remains the biggest challenge for content developers. This point was also raised in another session where one panelist advised using a mobile website to counter this. But as a speaker stated that the market access and promotion opportunities of app stores is essential for businesses. Agarawala also credits part of his sucess on the app store model as it is a crucial way for people to learn about apps, read reviews, and facilitate downloads.
Another dimension of market access for apps was raised by Napier, highlighting research that shows that bulk of consumers do not download any apps. She thus believes that it is essential for more apps to be preinstalled on devices in order for users to gain familiarity and comfort with using apps, necessary before we see more widespread adoption of the technology. Perras also cautions that consumers are not yet sufficiently savy for "the scope of our ideas to to fit the market uptake". Although the pace of innovation is rapid, it is also "very hard to differentiate between vapourwarde and long-term products", which Perras notes makes it difficult to engage in partnerships.
Another dimension of market access for apps was raised by Napier, highlighting research that shows that bulk of consumers do not download any apps. She thus believes that it is essential for more apps to be preinstalled on devices in order for users to gain familiarity and comfort with using apps, necessary before we see more widespread adoption of the technology. Perras also cautions that consumers are not yet sufficiently savy for "the scope of our ideas to to fit the market uptake". Although the pace of innovation is rapid, it is also "very hard to differentiate between vapourwarde and long-term products", which Perras notes makes it difficult to engage in partnerships.
As for the market opportunities in Ontario for mobile app developers - there was consensus that Toronto has been a hotbead of recent innovation in this sector, but that not enough is being done by government, citizens, or investors to foster growth here. Investors here are too traditional and short-term focused to embrace cutting edge development. Governments offer helpful capital but the process of aquiring funding is too drawn out and time-consuming. Ontarian consumers and businesses are reluctant to try out very new technology and start-ups need market proof and case studies to be able to expand. Silicon Valley, on the other hand, has much more of an experimental culture that creates this necessary testbed - as well as a more fertile investment climate.
Ontario's economic growth
In a sentiment I agree with, Varma said he cringed when the Ontario and Canadian governments bailed out the auto industry. "Our economy would be way better if the investment was in our knowledge economy" Varma commented. He believes that this is essential to our economy rather than manufacturing or resource extraction. The problem with goverment support of the new economy was addressed by a keynote by Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation. He identifies the perceptual barrier among voters with government funding new economy enterprises as it is not as conventional or visible to a community as old industry smokestacks. But Murray does believe that we are not in a "typical recession so we won't have a typical recovery... the recovery will be in high-value and high knowledge".
The Ontario government, however, has been trying to foster the new economy through new grants, agencies (including the OCE), and the recently-announced Social Innovation Wiki. Ontario, Murray lauded, is the first government to open up public input to policy through such online means. Such innovation, he added, is an example of what governments should be doing to exemplify and involve citizens in the new economy and it "didn't cost us anything". With innovation replacing production as the leading soruce of wealth in Ontario, Murray emhasized the critical importance of this area.
DemoCamp
Discovery 2011 concluded for me through a DemoCamp session. DemoCamps are unconference events where start-ups have a few minutes to pitch their new product or service. The companies participating were all from Ontario with web-based services. The five pitches came from:
Agarawala who successful lead his software company BumpTop to an aquistion by Google offered tips: "Don't be a derivative start-up. Be interesting and not another check-in or social media app." He echoed other comments heard at the conference that many sectors such as healthcare and B2B direly need more innovation and offer opportunities to create new markets rather than flood existing ones. Agarawala offered the tweet test as a way to stand out. "Give people something to talk about" with your product or at least attach your project to a story or trend.
The collective tips and demos from Discovery 11 are inspiring me to consider developing an app for my dissertation research. Either way, as a citizen of Ontario, I was inspired to see so much tech innovation happening here. Considering the large tradeshow, cross-section of attendees, hot topics, and good speakers I feel that Discovery is easily Toronto's best tech conference.
In a sentiment I agree with, Varma said he cringed when the Ontario and Canadian governments bailed out the auto industry. "Our economy would be way better if the investment was in our knowledge economy" Varma commented. He believes that this is essential to our economy rather than manufacturing or resource extraction. The problem with goverment support of the new economy was addressed by a keynote by Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation. He identifies the perceptual barrier among voters with government funding new economy enterprises as it is not as conventional or visible to a community as old industry smokestacks. But Murray does believe that we are not in a "typical recession so we won't have a typical recovery... the recovery will be in high-value and high knowledge".
The Ontario government, however, has been trying to foster the new economy through new grants, agencies (including the OCE), and the recently-announced Social Innovation Wiki. Ontario, Murray lauded, is the first government to open up public input to policy through such online means. Such innovation, he added, is an example of what governments should be doing to exemplify and involve citizens in the new economy and it "didn't cost us anything". With innovation replacing production as the leading soruce of wealth in Ontario, Murray emhasized the critical importance of this area.
DemoCamp
Discovery 2011 concluded for me through a DemoCamp session. DemoCamps are unconference events where start-ups have a few minutes to pitch their new product or service. The companies participating were all from Ontario with web-based services. The five pitches came from:
- Epic - task management
- 500 Pixels - photography portfolios
- Maintenance Assistance - asset management
- My Legal Briefcase - personal litigation help
- Wave - accounting for small biz
Agarawala who successful lead his software company BumpTop to an aquistion by Google offered tips: "Don't be a derivative start-up. Be interesting and not another check-in or social media app." He echoed other comments heard at the conference that many sectors such as healthcare and B2B direly need more innovation and offer opportunities to create new markets rather than flood existing ones. Agarawala offered the tweet test as a way to stand out. "Give people something to talk about" with your product or at least attach your project to a story or trend.
The collective tips and demos from Discovery 11 are inspiring me to consider developing an app for my dissertation research. Either way, as a citizen of Ontario, I was inspired to see so much tech innovation happening here. Considering the large tradeshow, cross-section of attendees, hot topics, and good speakers I feel that Discovery is easily Toronto's best tech conference.
Monday, May 09, 2011
The Role of Geotargetted Information Via Mobile Devices in Shaping Sense of Place
Moving to the downtown core of a large city from my semi-suburban hometown, I felt impressed by - yet detached from - my urban surroundings. I enjoyed the heterogeneity of the architecture and historical roots of my new city and also appreciated the diversity of civic and citizen cultural locations – so unlike my hometown. Although I had visited the city before moving there and was familiar with the prominent buildings and main streets, I lacked a sense of the place. As a newcomer, I did not have the personal contacts to receive the insider knowledge from my neighbours.
The layers of meaning implicit in a given place include the social, historical, political, and personal. An example of these dimensions can be seen by looking at Toronto Street in downtown Toronto. It is easy to miss Toronto Street as it runs only one block, but it used to be a main thoroughfare. Today, Toronto Street is populated by a handful of generic, low and medium rise office towers. What is not immediately apparent is that this street is where Conrad Black destroyed evidence, that it has a restaurant with amazing paninis, that there is a hidden parkette providing an oasis of rose bushes and fountains, that falcons have been reintroduced nearby and often swoop and prey overhead, or that it is the former site of public executions, including leaders of the Upper Canada Rebellion.
Until recently one would not have been easily able to tap into that diversity of information instantly and on the spot. To learn the above information about Toronto Street (also the site of my former workplace) and the other new places I regularly traversed, I consulted various information sources, such as periodicals, books, and walking tours. Eventually, I got to know my new city well. Not only did I develop a strong sense of the civic and social history of the place, I also developed personal relationships to the places I frequented as my life experiences grew.
Sense of place is foundational, as it not only aids individuals in developing attachments to their surroundings, but it also contributes to the formation of personal identity. It is helpful at this point to note the geographic distinction between space, the physical terrain and features of Earth - and place, the meaning humans ascribe to space. Differing from spatial cognition with a psychological focus on our perceptions of space and way-finding, scholars of sense of place often consider phenomenological aspects. Drawing upon the philosophers Husserl and Heidegger, sense of place can be defined as how an individual conceives of space and ascribes meaning to it. Having a sense of place is seen as a fundamental component of human identity from fostering community to shaping our mindful existence.
Geographic technologies such as global positioning devices and geographic information systems have introduced powerful abilities to analyze and visualize space and place. Recent market and technological developments have now given citizens access to powerful geographic tools. The convergence of distributed network access offered by the Internet, growing ubiquity of mobile devices, and open geographic information systems (such as Google Maps), have propelled increasing user functionality for location-based applications. Place is no longer a back-drop for information seeking, creation, and sharing as current mobile applications can customize information based on a user's geographic position.
Information objects from fiction to non-fiction are rich with geographic references whether as subject, setting, or - in all cases - the location of the publication or production. Due to a lack of widespread georeferencing of information sources in libraries, on the Internet, or elsewhere, my search strategies were restricted to what turned up with a key word and category search. The novels of Margaret Atwood, for example, that refer to my neighborhood never turned up in a search. Ontario's public libraries are increasingly offering local historical information in digital format, such as the Ontario Time Machine and Knowledge Ontario's OurOntario.ca projects, yet rarely are such projects georeferenced, let alone optimized for viewing on a mobile device. Although I now feel a deep sense of place, it was a delayed and haphazard process that resulted in years where I felt detached from place.
With the growing ubiquity of mobile location-based applications, I was struck by the question of whether this technology could help foster a sense of place. Although numerous human geographers have grappled with the relational, cultural, and perceptual aspects of place, few scholars appear to have examined the role of information in the development of an individual's sense of a place. Moreover, the specific nature and impact of on-the-spot geographically relevant information appears to have not been adequately examined. Although my research is still in the formation stage, I hope in my doctoral research to explore how mobile location-based information systems affect one's sense of place. Over the months as I explore this research topic, I plan to blog about my findings and the nature of sense of place and geotargetted information.
The layers of meaning implicit in a given place include the social, historical, political, and personal. An example of these dimensions can be seen by looking at Toronto Street in downtown Toronto. It is easy to miss Toronto Street as it runs only one block, but it used to be a main thoroughfare. Today, Toronto Street is populated by a handful of generic, low and medium rise office towers. What is not immediately apparent is that this street is where Conrad Black destroyed evidence, that it has a restaurant with amazing paninis, that there is a hidden parkette providing an oasis of rose bushes and fountains, that falcons have been reintroduced nearby and often swoop and prey overhead, or that it is the former site of public executions, including leaders of the Upper Canada Rebellion.
Until recently one would not have been easily able to tap into that diversity of information instantly and on the spot. To learn the above information about Toronto Street (also the site of my former workplace) and the other new places I regularly traversed, I consulted various information sources, such as periodicals, books, and walking tours. Eventually, I got to know my new city well. Not only did I develop a strong sense of the civic and social history of the place, I also developed personal relationships to the places I frequented as my life experiences grew.
Sense of place is foundational, as it not only aids individuals in developing attachments to their surroundings, but it also contributes to the formation of personal identity. It is helpful at this point to note the geographic distinction between space, the physical terrain and features of Earth - and place, the meaning humans ascribe to space. Differing from spatial cognition with a psychological focus on our perceptions of space and way-finding, scholars of sense of place often consider phenomenological aspects. Drawing upon the philosophers Husserl and Heidegger, sense of place can be defined as how an individual conceives of space and ascribes meaning to it. Having a sense of place is seen as a fundamental component of human identity from fostering community to shaping our mindful existence.
Geographic technologies such as global positioning devices and geographic information systems have introduced powerful abilities to analyze and visualize space and place. Recent market and technological developments have now given citizens access to powerful geographic tools. The convergence of distributed network access offered by the Internet, growing ubiquity of mobile devices, and open geographic information systems (such as Google Maps), have propelled increasing user functionality for location-based applications. Place is no longer a back-drop for information seeking, creation, and sharing as current mobile applications can customize information based on a user's geographic position.
Information objects from fiction to non-fiction are rich with geographic references whether as subject, setting, or - in all cases - the location of the publication or production. Due to a lack of widespread georeferencing of information sources in libraries, on the Internet, or elsewhere, my search strategies were restricted to what turned up with a key word and category search. The novels of Margaret Atwood, for example, that refer to my neighborhood never turned up in a search. Ontario's public libraries are increasingly offering local historical information in digital format, such as the Ontario Time Machine and Knowledge Ontario's OurOntario.ca projects, yet rarely are such projects georeferenced, let alone optimized for viewing on a mobile device. Although I now feel a deep sense of place, it was a delayed and haphazard process that resulted in years where I felt detached from place.
With the growing ubiquity of mobile location-based applications, I was struck by the question of whether this technology could help foster a sense of place. Although numerous human geographers have grappled with the relational, cultural, and perceptual aspects of place, few scholars appear to have examined the role of information in the development of an individual's sense of a place. Moreover, the specific nature and impact of on-the-spot geographically relevant information appears to have not been adequately examined. Although my research is still in the formation stage, I hope in my doctoral research to explore how mobile location-based information systems affect one's sense of place. Over the months as I explore this research topic, I plan to blog about my findings and the nature of sense of place and geotargetted information.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)