Pluralisation of Place in Connections to Mobile Phone and Internet Use - Research Paper Example

Pluralisation of Place in Connections to Mobile Phone and Internet Use Doubling of place refers to the ability to be in two places at the same time by use of internet or mobile communication devices like the cell phone. According to (Moores, 2004, p. 27) Pluralisation of place refers to the ability of being in more than two places at the same time. This happens through a virtual environment made possible through internet or through mobile electronic devices that are being used. According to (Moores, 2005, p. 63) in both the doubling and pluralisation it happens with the first of the places as a person’s location physically while the other reference is the location where media is able to carry us to. It’s clear that it is not possible for a person to be in more than one place at the same time, but the idea of broadcasting allows us to have a ‘live’ experiencing to what is happening in the remote places and therefore we are able to bring these experiences closer to us or to a place that is within our range. Arguably, according to (Couldry, 2004, p. 40) we are able to relate with this idea in our daily lives when we speak with mobile phones, chat on internet and use a video conference. For instance when there is a global event like the Olympics. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) the media gives us a chance to experience and feel the atmosphere of the Olympics event wherever we are. We celebrate with the winners and consul the losers just as if we are in the same place with those who are in the proximate distance. We actually feel we are cheering on our favourite sports person from our side of the world. In extreme cases, especially in major soccer tournaments fans have even committed suicide or even hurt each other physically just because their team lost although they have never had physical contact with the actual team members. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 62) Such is the power of pluralisation of place through internet use. This as well means that there is a possibility of being carried into virtual places through internet as explained by (Moores, 2004, p. 27) . This happens by the ability to create an internet or online version of oneself. This is called forming an alias who is essentially a fantasy. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 62) this is known as avatar. This means that people are able to use the other self. Some call this the alter ego; interacting with the other people’s avatars in a virtual atmosphere. This means that although we are physically present at the point where the computer is, we are also present in the other online world as explained by (Moorers, 2005, p. 63). The media has a special ability to transport us to a different place. We can be here physically but in the mind we are in another realm. At home, as explained by (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) we can be physically present having dinner with our loved ones or relatives while on the other hand we are in our own realm of texting. If by any means the television set is on, then we are in another world also. We find ourselves moving between these virtual atmospheres at the same time. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 62) doubling of place with regard to internet use has exposed a whole new capability of man in terms of ability to multitask. It has opened a whole new set of possibilities because the results of these virtual worlds and the activities within it are tangible. Broadcasting, in a way is made to make us experience what they want us to feel. If something happens, good or bad, the media will present it to people in their own version. It is argued by (Moorers, 2005, p. 62) that they have the capacity to break news about some tragedy that has happened and make it very sensational. That way they affect the way we feel towards the event. This as well means that public events are brought or come into our lives i.e. private lives and make us to be part of those lives. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) this simply means that our lives are affected or interrupted. The mobile phones and internet allow for pluralizing of place and relationships to the effect that we exist in a virtual world where we can be whoever we want to be while at the same time we are present with some colleagues somewhere trying to accomplish some purpose. It is worth noting, as stated by (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) that through other media developments like Skype, we are able to see the other person or person’s expressions just as if we are with them physically. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) it is possible that teachers can have global students through video conferencing where students can relate with the lecturer just as if they are present in a physical classroom. Online studies popularly known as e-learning are continuing to gain momentum. (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) says that tests and assignments can be sent through internet, clarifications are made by chatting with the lecturer on internet or even making a call, results of the examinations are posted online for the students to see for themselves, school fees are made through online transactions and applications for enrolling in colleges are made through this virtual realm. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) this serves to make people serve in more than one place at the same time. Take for example a person who is working and wants to enrol for a master program. They won’t have to resign. They will be working while some thousands of miles away they have a deadline to beat with regard to submitting some report or assignment or even attending a virtual class. It is now possible to watch television through mobile phones as (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) as articulates in his argument. Doubling of place has made information to flow even into the most remote places. People can watch television at home and decide to react to the presenters’ sentiments by simply sending a short message or even calling the media house. Mobile phones cause personal things to pour into public world. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) the text messages are personal but some messages are sensational enough to cause us to respond physically in the physical location are at. For instance when a lady is talking on phone, definitely she is in a private conversation. When she screams, it is because she believes that she is in her own private place or environment although essentially she is still in public and other people can see her. Places are pluralized and not marginalized when we use internet enabled devices. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) mmedia devices have the ability to pluralize places by allowing us to be in more than two places while still remaining relevant where we are. This should be looked at as a beneficial or advantageous phenomenon. We see as (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) explains people who are participating in events around the world, in deferent places are reachable by the fact that the electronically mediated art of communication rises above the boundaries of the present physical settings, including international and continental boundaries. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) teleconferencing has allowed the shift in boundaries from private into public and vice versa. This is clearly seen in the following two incidences. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, the whole world watched as he stepped back into freedom after decades behind the prison bars. Many wept as if they were there physically. This is a case where a public event intrudes into private affairs. Secondly when a lady screams while talking on phone, it is a case of a private event intruding into public affairs. In both instances we experience pluralisation of place and relationships. Doubling of place should not be seen as a threat to the prevailing local cultures. The happening, which is phenomenal in nature, does not always cause us to lose the physical presence. Rather it leads to the strengthening of the concept of place. The word ‘place’ tends to be redefined. (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) explains that any people are able to follow up on the projects they instigated back home even when they are overseas. This makes them feel a sense of place and control. Many also send money to pay bills incurred across international boundaries. Borrowing from (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) they are able to invest in a place without having to be physically present. One of the outstanding features of the pluralism happens through social media like face book and twitter. The chat feature in face book allows an individual to have chat with many people who are in different continents at the same time. A person could be making a call through the internet while sending text messages in another part of the world. Social media is an environment where people try to blend their ideas and interact with an aim of sharing information touching anything. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) we literary have an electronic society without having a placelesness in the present world today. Furthermore, according to (Moorers, 2005, p. 61) internet and mobile use allows us to have all cultures interacting in an online virtual atmosphere. The reality of an internet culture is no longer vague. The young generation has a common internet language which spreads globally by use of technology as argued by (Moorers, 2005, p. 63). Space can be doubled, tripled or pluralized and while this act may be overwhelming, it is not necessarily a bad thing. According to (Moorers, 2004, p. 27) the ability to be relevant in multiple worlds at the same time means that the individual productivity is being enhanced. It simply reveals the full potential of an individual and how much impact can be caused when passion in put into productivity for the greater gain of the society. In the Olympics games one javelin thrower said that he did not have a trainer but he entirely depended on internet for enhancement of his skills. It’s working for him. According to (Moorers, 2005, p. 63) pluralisation of place has given such people a lifeline. It has caused a big impact in the money markets where we can now experience the phenomenon of e-banking. Money can be sent from one mobile phone to another through the virtual environment. Money is also stored in the virtual saving space making it very easy for the people to access banking services while at home.  Media has continued to become more mobile over the last few years as explained by (Graceforan, 2009). This means that it increasingly becomes more accessible anywhere and at any time in agreement with (Couldry, 2004, p. 21). Virtual or digital spaces have almost become fixed within the physical spaces permanently. It is considered backward not to exist in a virtual or digital atmosphere. There is particular exploration of how the present mobile mediums can be strengthened by examining social software for mobile phones. We are talking of software’s like socialite or even semapedia. These software allow the users to connect physical world to the real world. They are location based software. It is true that these spaces cannot be exactly the same, but such software does allow us to see digital space and the physical space in comparison to each other. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) we are feeling more connected to each other in whichever location we are at by the use of these mobile technologies. (Shipp, 2009) Explains that it is possible to check for emails for a mobile phone, get the latest news using the same handset and still call friends to find out something from them. It is worth noting that it is possible to send a message from a website or email account straight into a mobile phone and vice versa. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) this generation is technologically savvy. Versatility and interconnectivity of the media is continuously evolving. This had led to the idea of convergence. This is a situation where several separate media are uniting and at the same time how the media is branching out into different and multiple platforms. Such radical changes come with their own effects. The most significant is that analogue signals are being converted into digital signals. People do not have to buy newspapers and read. The can do that on their ipads or note books. This has proved to be a challenge to the newspaper industry. The emergence of e-libraries to is also another key issue. People can purchase electronic books online or simply subscribe to e-library services. Books which otherwise could only be found in bookstores are now available at the press of a button anywhere. This has obviously left the print media with a certain extent of doubts. No doubt that (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) argues that too much information is available within a very small space using a relatively small gadget. What does doubling of place mean to the society? Definitely pluralisation has challenged the conservative cultures according to (Shipp, 2009) and has also altered people’s value system. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) it is easy to do research as more and more people continue to share their academic views on various topics of concern. Doctors can consult with their counterparts across the world and share insights and experiences. Lecturers can discuss syllabuses and compare the quality of their work or research according to (Moores, 2004, p. 27) . Presidents can discuss important issues through video conferencing. There are definitely counter-productive effects of pluralisation of place with regard to mobile phone use and internet. Young children/underage are now exposed to adult content by the use of their mobile phones. We learn from (Moores, 2004, p. 27) that it has continually become harder to regulate what young children can watch on television, mobile phones or even internet. Some of the content has a negative impact to the youths or adolescents. Peer influence can be positive and negative. With the new idea of doubling of places, the peer influence has grown stronger especially among the youths. We have seen governments toppled through uprisings that have been instigated through social media. This may not necessarily be a bad thing. It definitely led to the lose lives in the process, which is regrettable. Mobile phone use has also become instrumental in the security in general as security agents are able to trace suspected criminals by use of the virtual atmosphere. In some cases mobile phones are set in such a way that they send messages once an intruder is sensed in a particular compound. This means that although physically an individual might be miles away from his compound, through the virtual realm he can get to know what is happening through the mobile phone according to (Moores, 2005, p. 62) . Pluralisation of place has more merits than demerits. Multiplicity of operations has lead to better results in the overall as articulated by (Moores, 2004, p. 27) . In case of need, multiple answers are sent through the internet from people who are thousands of miles away. This also has caused productivity to become results driven as compared to the routine driven. According to (Couldry, 2004, p. 21) multinationals have access to outsourced expertise through the same digital atmosphere leading to better performances in the job market. In conclusion pluralisation and doubling of place with regard to mobile phone and internet use is phenomenal. It has brought revolution to the way things are done today. It has literally made the world to become a global village. According to (Moores, 2004, p. 27) Ideas flow freely and people become whoever they want to be in the virtual realm. The idea of people taking multiple identities in the different atmospheres makes people actualize their full potential swiftly. As argued by (Moores, 2005, p. 63) it is also important to regulate the idea of pluralisation of place so that we do not become overwhelmed in the process of trying to jungle between the many realms. For instance the doctors attending patients who are critically ill should not get involved in digital realms that are a distraction. This is because this can result to loss of life. The physical setting in internet use tends to pluralise places rather than cause users placeless. According to (Moores, 2004, p. 27) the aim is to create a presence through a place on screens while making sure that the physical world around the screen is also getting involved. It is important to note that internet relationships do not happen in a cultural setting. It is possible for the world to be together without having to meet physically. Of importance here is the fact that the physical atmosphere remains very influential and cannot be ignored. However the physical world is sometimes influenced by the knowledge acquired through the virtual realm experiences. Internet and mobile use has lead to doubling of places or even pluralisation which in turn has instigated revolution to the global culture and ways of doing things. It remains to be seen what shall happen in the near future as digital world continues to gather momentum. References Couldry, N. (2004). The doubling of place. In MediaSpace: Place, Scale and Culture in a Media Age. (p. 21). Routledge. Retrieved from http://http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=hBiQXz5ckA4C&dq=doubling+of+place+in+internet+use&source=gbs_navlinks_s Graceforan. (2009, April 2). The Doubling of Place: Electronic Media, Time-Space Arrangements and Social Relationships. Retrieved August 21, 2012, from http://http://graceforan.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/the-doubling-of-place-electronic-media-time-space-arrangements-and-social-relationships/ Moorers, S. (2005). Media/Theory: Thinking About Media and Communications Critical voices in art, theory and culture Comedia series. (p. 62). Taylor & Francis. Retrieved from http://http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=4jHnl8C5g-cC&dq=doubling+of+place+in+internet+use&source=gbs_navlinks_s Moores, S. (2004). In _MediaSpace: place, scale, and culture in a media age. In The Doubling of Place: Electronic media, time-space arrangements and social relationships. . (p. 27). London: psychology press. Retrieved from http://http://brettany.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/moores-s-2004-the-doubling-of-place-electronic-media-time-space-arrangements-and-social-relationships-in-_mediaspace-place-scale-and-culture-in-a-media-age_-n-couldry-and-a-mccarthy-ed/ Shipp, E. (2009, April 3). Doubling of place. Emily’s blog. Retrieved August 21, 2012, from http://http://ewshipp.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/week-4-the-doubling-of-place/ Read More