[ecrea] Wireless Cultures & Technologies Workshop - 1 Dec 2006

Wireless Cultures & Technologies Workshop

Convened by Dr Gerard Goggin (USyd) and Dr Melissa Gregg (UQ)

Sponsored by the ARC Cultural Research Network

Cultural Technologies Node 

The University of Sydney

Friday 1 December, 1.30-5pm

 

Wireless technologies and cultures could be said to encompass anything
from WiFi-enabled laptops and handheld devices to wireless broadband
protocols such as Bluetooth and Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) as
well as a range of cultural and community movements centring on wireless
networks. While these emerging technologies are of great critical and
particularly business interest worldwide, there has been little cultural
research and analysis accompanying their uptake in Australia. This lack
of attention is notable, given the intense discussion of new wireless
technologies in Europe and North America. 

 

This ARC Cultural Research Network workshop aims to generate debate
about the current and potential uses of wireless technology in
Australia. It will draw together a number of speakers from academia and
industry to showcase the kind of research and development taking place
in relation to wireless use, with a view to understanding the Australian
context in relation to international experience. Among other things, it
will provide a voice for growing demands for quality wireless provision
in public and private settings in this country. It does this by
exploring the benefits of established cultural research methods and
theories for understanding the rationales and desires behind technology
design and adoption.

 

Confirmed speakers: 

Genevieve Bell (Intel Corporation)

Chris Chesher (USyd)

Marcus Foth (QUT)

Gerard Goggin (USyd)

Melissa Gregg (UQ)

Katrina Jungnickel (INCITE, UK)

 

Speakers will offer short presentations based on their current research
on wireless use in particular contexts-domestic space, neighbourhood
networks and workplace environments-as well as actual mobile
technologies incorporating a wireless component. These discussion papers
will lead into open debate on issues involved in wireless provision,
policy and practice in Australia, with a view to establishing research
priorities and collaborations on wireless cultures and technologies.

 

Places are available on a strictly limited basis for researchers and
policy, community and industry representatives. Non-CRN members are
asked to email the organisers ,  Gerard Goggin
((gerard.goggin /at/ arts.usyd.edu.au)) and Melissa Gregg ((m.gregg /at/ uq.edu.au))
by November 13 if they wish to attend, providing details of their
particular interest in wireless cultures and technologies.

 

Further information and full abstracts for speakers are available on the
CRN website: http://www.uq.edu.au/crn/activities/wireless.html

 




Draft program

 

1.30 pm - 2.45 pm: Panel 1 (chair: Gerard Goggin)

 

Genevieve Bell (Intel Corporation)

'Life at the edges of the network: architectural, technological and
social intersections of wireless in and around Australia'

 

Marcus Foth (QUT)

'Using Wireless Technology and Locative Media to Digitally Augment a
Society of Friendships'

 

Melissa Gregg (UQ)

'Freedom to work: The impact of wireless on labour ideology'

 

2.45pm - 3.15pm: Afternoon tea

 

3.15 pm - 4.30pm: Panel 2 (chair: Melissa Gregg)

 

Katrina Jungnickel (Surrey, UK)

'Hacking the home: Technological tantrums and wireless workarounds in
domestic culture'

 

Chris Chesher (USyd)

'Wireless tangles: Mediators and intermediaries in high speed wireless'

 

Gerard Goggin (USyd)

'Should we imagine an Australian wireless commons!?'

 

4.30pm - 5.15 pm: Plenary discussion of research themes, priorities and
agenda (chairs: Goggin & Gregg)

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