THE GEOGRAPHY OF TECHNOLOGY Guy Rintoul www.guyrintoul.com twitter.com/grintoul

Agenda Mapping space and place New ‘virtual’ space Interaction of virtual and real Software and space

Mapping space and place

New ‘virtual’ space

Interaction of virtual and real

Software and space

Space and Place Traditionally fixed: Same or tightly linked Can be mapped Telephone or postal networks

Traditionally fixed:

Same or tightly linked

Can be mapped

Telephone or postal networks

Space and Place Technology makes them fluid: Not necessarily linked Can’t always be mapped Internet

Technology makes them fluid:

Not necessarily linked

Can’t always be mapped

Internet

Brief History 1969 – First two nodes connected 1970s –APRANET (US DoD) expands across continental US 1980s – National Science Foundation takes responsibility. Forms links to Europe and becomes Internet

1969 – First two nodes connected

1970s –APRANET (US DoD) expands across continental US

1980s – National Science Foundation takes responsibility. Forms links to Europe and becomes Internet

Brief History 1989 – Tim Berners-Lee invents the Web 1991 – CERN publicizes this new project 1990s – Web grows at rate of 100% per year. Explosive growth in 1996 and 1997

1989 – Tim Berners-Lee invents the Web

1991 – CERN publicizes this new project

1990s – Web grows at rate of 100% per year. Explosive growth in 1996 and 1997

Old Space Phone or postal system: Dedicated circuit or delivery routes Call or parcel travels only one route Space and place can be mapped

Phone or postal system:

Dedicated circuit or delivery routes

Call or parcel travels only one route

Space and place can be mapped

New Space Internet: Multiple delivery routes to destination Data split then reassembled (TCP/IP) Each packet can take a different route

Internet:

Multiple delivery routes to destination

Data split then reassembled (TCP/IP)

Each packet can take a different route

New Space Mapping: Place is still fixed – start and end points But new, space is fluid, fluctuating Data follows constantly changing paths Historical bias to US hubs, but these are just ‘concentrations in the cloud’ Physical cables don’t affect space

Mapping:

Place is still fixed – start and end points

But new, space is fluid, fluctuating

Data follows constantly changing paths

Historical bias to US hubs, but these are just ‘concentrations in the cloud’

Physical cables don’t affect space

New Space Perception: The cloud Place but no physical space in between One large virtual, fluctuating space Entire space of their own

Perception:

The cloud

Place but no physical space in between

One large virtual, fluctuating space

Entire space of their own

Real-World Space Influence of virtual space: New space feeds back into old Old space being built on new (e.g. VoIP) Three interfaces between real and virtual What does this mean for the future?

Influence of virtual space:

New space feeds back into old

Old space being built on new (e.g. VoIP)

Three interfaces between real and virtual

What does this mean for the future?

Interaction with New Space Graham (1998), writing just after the explosion in Internet use: Substitution and transcendence Co-evolution Recombination

Graham (1998), writing just after the explosion in Internet use:

Substitution and transcendence

Co-evolution

Recombination

1. Substitution & Transcendence Media, telecoms and communication converge until distance no longer matters Full Service Networks (FSNs) create an interactive virtual reality which replaces the non-virtual

Media, telecoms and communication converge until distance no longer matters

Full Service Networks (FSNs) create an interactive virtual reality which replaces the non-virtual

1. Substitution & Transcendence Approximations include Second Life (money interchangeable) and World of Warcraft (gay rights protest) Discredited. Criticized as ‘technological Utopianism’ – still need to eat, sleep etc.

Approximations include Second Life (money interchangeable) and World of Warcraft (gay rights protest)

Discredited. Criticized as ‘technological Utopianism’ – still need to eat, sleep etc.

2. Co-Evolution Technology and space co-evolve together Doesn’t assume universal distribution or access to technology in a capitalist world Produce more material spaces rather the all-engulfing cyberspace of the first theory

Technology and space co-evolve together

Doesn’t assume universal distribution or access to technology in a capitalist world

Produce more material spaces rather the all-engulfing cyberspace of the first theory

2. Co-Evolution New technologies reflexively shape real-world space, with both influencing each other in their design and incorporation Includes capitalist power struggles (e.g. ‘smart’ vs. prepayment power meters)

New technologies reflexively shape real-world space, with both influencing each other in their design and incorporation

Includes capitalist power struggles (e.g. ‘smart’ vs. prepayment power meters)

3. Recombination Boundaries between humans and technology become less defined Actors and networks, both human and non-human, influence the development, use and interaction of the other

Boundaries between humans and technology become less defined

Actors and networks, both human and non-human, influence the development, use and interaction of the other

3. Recombination Does not suggest that technology absorbs the real world Players interact in complex ways, rather than in an absolute time-space arena ‘ Fuzziest’ of Graham’s three theories – somewhere in between the other two?

Does not suggest that technology absorbs the real world

Players interact in complex ways, rather than in an absolute time-space arena

‘ Fuzziest’ of Graham’s three theories – somewhere in between the other two?

Most Likely? Possibly too early to tell, as technology is in its comparative infancy Likely – flexible interaction between the theories of co-evolution and recombination

Possibly too early to tell, as technology is in its comparative infancy

Likely – flexible interaction between the theories of co-evolution and recombination

Most Likely? Valentine and Holloway (2002) study Internet use of 11-16 year olds: Incorporated online worlds into offline ones (e.g. friendships and social networks) Also with offline worlds into online ones (e.g. class and gender identities)

Valentine and Holloway (2002) study Internet use of 11-16 year olds:

Incorporated online worlds into offline ones (e.g. friendships and social networks)

Also with offline worlds into online ones (e.g. class and gender identities)

Software and Space Mentioned hardware but not software But cables are useless on their own Hardware may define the place, but how does software affect the space?

Mentioned hardware but not software

But cables are useless on their own

Hardware may define the place, but how does software affect the space?

Software and Space Thrift and French (2002): Study how software changes society Software as a ‘new set of textualities’ Includes everything from the binary code to the information produced using it

Thrift and French (2002):

Study how software changes society

Software as a ‘new set of textualities’

Includes everything from the binary code to the information produced using it

Software in Context Historically: Software and hardware separate entities which performed separate tasks Increasingly engrained in real-world space Software was discrete – now ‘wideware’

Historically:

Software and hardware separate entities which performed separate tasks

Increasingly engrained in real-world space

Software was discrete – now ‘wideware’

Software in Context Software often unnoticed, while hardware that enables it is seen as ‘the technology’ For example, over 30% of an executive car’s value is in the software (EIU, 2000) Millennium bug highlighted this ‘software writing space’ (Thrift and French, 2002)

Software often unnoticed, while hardware that enables it is seen as ‘the technology’

For example, over 30% of an executive car’s value is in the software (EIU, 2000)

Millennium bug highlighted this ‘software writing space’ (Thrift and French, 2002)

Software in Space Dodge and Kitchin (2005) propose three ways in which software (code) is found in geographical , real-world space: Code/space Coded space Background coded space

Dodge and Kitchin (2005) propose three ways in which software (code) is found in geographical , real-world space:

Code/space

Coded space

Background coded space

1. Code/space In this type of relationship, the problem cannot be solved without code For example, if the code is a stereo does not work properly, it won’t play CDs

In this type of relationship, the problem cannot be solved without code

For example, if the code is a stereo does not work properly, it won’t play CDs

2. Coded Space In this type of relationship, the code allows extra functions or features but the main system can still work without it For example, CCTV in a shop. If the cameras stop working, the shop can still function without them

In this type of relationship, the code allows extra functions or features but the main system can still work without it

For example, CCTV in a shop. If the cameras stop working, the shop can still function without them

3. Background Coded Space In this type of relationship, the code allows a solution to work, but only when purposely activated For example, mobile phone signals are always present as background coded space. When the phone is used, a signal is required and so it becomes code/space

In this type of relationship, the code allows a solution to work, but only when purposely activated

For example, mobile phone signals are always present as background coded space. When the phone is used, a signal is required and so it becomes code/space

Software in Space Technology is all around us – not just hardware, but software as well The hardware is what’s noticed, but the software also plays a pivotal role

Technology is all around us – not just hardware, but software as well

The hardware is what’s noticed, but the software also plays a pivotal role

Summary Technology is changing space and place Increasingly, fluid ‘virtual’ space and fixed real-world space interact But technology is all around us, not only in the form of ‘obvious’ hardware, but as hidden software too

Technology is changing space and place

Increasingly, fluid ‘virtual’ space and fixed real-world space interact

But technology is all around us, not only in the form of ‘obvious’ hardware, but as hidden software too

Questions? Guy Rintoul www.guyrintoul.com twitter.com/grintoul