Media Culture and Domestication - Essay Example

Media Culture Name: Course: Professor: Date: Media Culture Introduction The concept of domestication with regard to mobile derived and phones was developed on the understanding that in the contemporary society, technology plays an essential role in shaping the incorporation of different artefacts into everyday routines of different individuals. This makes it a dynamic concept through which different personalities and groups learn to negotiate the use of technological devices in an attempt to fitting them in or breaking them into their personal life structures and domestic space (Xu 2014). Domestication of mobile devices and phones facilitate the process where individuals and groups develop techniques on how to satisfy their needs and desires just as consumers can modify a device in ways that affect their lives (Xu 2014). The main objective of this essay will be to assess the extent to which domestication can be useful in understanding contemporary mobile device and phones. In addition, the essay will also assess the ways through which theses devices can be used in reworking the boundaries between public and private spaces in everyday life. The significance of domestication in understanding contemporary mobile devices and phones When applied with regard to the prevalence of mobile device and phones, domestication occurs when users in different environments are confronted with different new technological applications. Domestication process allows technological devices to be integrated into structures and daily routines, which are valuable to users in the environments (Xu 2014). Mobile phone devices have become an essential part of the everyday lives of different individuals. This is because of the communication process that allows individuals separated by different geographical boundaries. Successful domestication of technologies is essential with regard to mobile phones since it ensures that these device re not regarded as lifeless, problematic or challenging but as comfortable and useful tools with regard to their functionality making them reliable and trustworthy with regard to their intended purpose (Silverstone 2006). Domestication eliminates the one sided approach to the media in enhancing communication through improved technology. Successful domestication of mobile devise is however dependent on the nature of innovation and the level of diffusion (Silverstone 2006). Diffusion often focuses on the process of adopting technological innovation among individual and other essential decision-making units in the society (Xu 2014). This is often followed by the spread and popularization of the innovation with a social system. Through a rational innovation decision process of innovation, it becomes easier for the society to embrace technology with regard to their cultural appropriateness in the execution of social responsibilities (Xu 2014). An additional essence of the concept of domestication from the perspective of mobile devices and communication arises from the understanding that it ensures the provision of alternatives to other determinisms that prevailed in media and communication. While drawing from the concept of technological biographies, domestication provides a technique of understanding appropriate application of mobile devices and phones with regard to the cultural context (Silverstone 2006). The essence of this approach to incorporating technology as part of life is based on the understanding that each culture thinks and uses the same kind of technology in different ways. Therefore, an in-depth understanding on the use of technology in any society presents varies form of this approach to the use of technology. In addition, it also provides a platform of developing mechanisms on how technology can be used in enhancing communication across cultures (Xu 2014). From the perspective of Silverstone (2006), successful domestication of mobile devices and phones in any culture can be realized through the application of the four stages of domestication. In the first stage, there is need to consider the technology with regard to its appropriation. This involves the development of an imagination on how these devices can be used as the possibility that the society will purchase the technology. In the second stage of domestication, the society will involve the objectification of technology (Silverstone 2006). This involves making decisions on where the technology is placed within a household. The positioning of mobile devices helps in the determination of the people allowed to use the technology within the household and the time when the technological devices can be used. Incorporation is the third stage of domestication (Silverstone 2006). During this stage, the culture embracing mobile phone technology will be make decisions on the temporary incorporation of the device in the daily lives of those it affects. Conversion is the fourth stage of domestication. During this stage, the domesticators must make decision on how mobile devices and phones will be displayed within the household and how members of the household will talk about the technology (Silverstone 2006). The four stages provide an indication that domestication is an essential process of technological innovation with regard to the development of mobile technology. This is because technological innovations of mobile devices must incorporate elements such as individual use and the prevailing market forces. Furthermore, the design process which affects domestication because of the understanding that there are restraints, which affect the use and the consequences of using the technology (Silverstone 2006). How do these devices rework the boundaries between public and private space in everyday life? One of the contributions of mobile devices is that they contribute to the definition of the sequence of activities in public and private spaces. Routines from the perceptive of Scannell (1996) generate the reoccurrence of events, which punctuate the rhythm of everyday life in the context of the society. The prevalence of mobile devices as apparatuses for receiving and sending information facilitates the creation of routines, which upon domestication can be regarded as natural activities. According to Scannell (1996), the society is defined by everyday procedures that are repetitive in nature. The repetition, which generates a routine cycle, can be in the form of days, weeks, months or annually. These are what comprise the media culture of different personalities. It is notable that in the process of developing these routines, mobile devices provide a platform of developing a schedule of communication among different personalities. Media rituals facilitate the reduction of public spaces while informing on private spaces because they provide individual with a technique of accessing both private and public information about individuals through internet-enabled connections (Nick 2003). The concept of routine generates an additional concept of care structures. According to this concept, every member of the society is perceived by the public depending on the type of media that he uses in the definition of his routines. One of the recurring elements in the lives of mobile devices and phone users is news (Nick 2003). The care structures in the view of Scannell (1996) are designed to ensure the routine of events. News from this perspective become part of activities of everyday lives of different personalities since it occurs constantly updated in a routine manner. The prevalence of news as a care structure with regard to its effects of public and private spaces emanates from the understanding that it is possible for information regarding any event to be viewed as it occurs. The preference of news among different individual depends on their ability to use mobile devices in accessing information through existing social networking and technological sites on the internet. Such individuals are considered to have made commitments towards these news programs and they expect the personalities in charge to providing updated information. The internet which allows individual in the society to engage in live streaming and updating of information through different sites can be perceived as an element of change who regard to the movement of traditional routines such as reading newspapers and listening to radios to advanced platforms of communication (Nick 2003). Globalization and technological innovations must therefore be perceived as the main contributors to this approach to the reduction of public and private spaces. This is because networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter allow different members of the society to form their own care structures which arte tailor made in accordance with their taste and preferences. The customization of personalities on social networking sites also enhances the definition of the kind of space that an individual considers private or public (Madge & O’Connor 2010). This can be considered as a redefinition of routine because the communicator is considered can choose of the type of information him or her access through mobile devices and phones (Nick 2003). In addition, the communicator also develops some level of awareness of the features of his or her routines as a way of facilitating communication and interception in different social spaces. The introduction and popularity of mobile devices and phones within the society have also changed the concept of imagined communities with regard to the understanding of nationality. Previously the political community was imagined as inherently limited and sovereign, this mean that members of nay society were separated buy geographical boundaries, which introduced limitations to their ability to meet and interact with all the other members (Anderson 1983). However, the introduction and popularity of mobile technology networked by the internet as introduced alteration in the perceptions of nationalism. This is because through this media culture, it has become possible for members, separated by different physical boundaries to engage in instant and constant communication on different maters rests to nationalism and the need to ensure communion within the society (Madge & O’Connor 2010). The introduction government, which provides information to the public, creates a community of informed people. This is regardless of the actual inequality and exploitation that may be prevailing in such a community. an informed community is often perceived as a deep horizontal comradeship and this makes it possible to for members of such a community to be involved in negotiated and highly interactive sessions that define the decision making process within the community. Involving the community through social networking forums on their mobile devices can therefore be perceived as a media culture that transgresses traditional boundaries that defied public and private spaces (Madge & O’Connor 2010). The frequency and the level of information that mobile technology introduced in the society plays an essential role in the definition of its place in reworking public and private spaces in the society (Chavan 2007). The instantaneous and regular frequency of the internet characterized by the level of dedication by web developers to update and provide instant information to their viewers can be perceived as an essential technique through which traditional public and private spaces have been integrated to become a single platform of networking (Hartley 2007). Mobile technology through the devices has the ability of maintaining high frequency in term of the amount of information that can be accessed in an instantaneous manner (Chavan 2007). The challenge presented by this process of reworking and integrating private and public spaces is that as their dynamic nature leads to an increase in frequency, there is gradual decline in the impact of the information provided (Hartley 2007). The ability of mobile devices to rework private and public spaces also depends on the relationship between different individuals and their mobile phones. Mobile technology provides a platform of continuous and uninterrupted communication unlike traditional media channels such as newspapers and magazines (Chavan 2007). This is an indication that by interfering with private spaces, mobile phones have contributed to the elimination and the reconstruction of boundaries in areas where communication was previously defined. For instance, it is possible for individuals to call and receive calls at any time of the day or night making it relatively difficult for such individuals to engage in other platform for meaningful conversations. For individual who consider themselves as overwhelmed with mobile technology with regard to public and private spaces, they often purposefully switch off these devices as say of creating necessary boundaries (Madge & O’Connor 2010). Conclusion Domestication of mobile devices and phones facilitate the process where individuals and groups develop techniques on how to satisfy their needs and desires just as consumers can modify a device in ways that affect their lives. The essence of domestication to incorporating technology as part of life is based on the understanding that each culture thinks and uses the same kind of technology in different ways. The introduction and popularity of mobile technology networked by the internet as introduced alteration in the perceptions of nationalism. This is because through this media culture, it has become possible for members to engage in instant and constant communication on different maters rests to nationalism and the need to ensure communion within the society References Anderson, B 1983. Imagined Communities. Reflections on the Origin and the Spread of Nationalism. London, Verso Books, 1983, pgs. 37-48 Chavan, A. L. 2010. 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Interdisciplinary mobile media and communications: social, political, and economic implications. Hershey, PA : Information Science Reference. Read More