Internet Society : The Internet in Everyday

Internet Society investigates Internet use and its implications for society through insights into the daily experiences of ordinary users. Drawing on an original study of non-professional, 'ordinary' users at home, this book examines how people interpret, domesticate, and creatively appropriate the Internet by integrating it into the projects and activities of their everyday lives.

Maria Bakardjieva is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary

Acknowledgements

x

Introduction

1

(8)

Among the Natives of the Internet Islands

1

(3)

Why the Home?

4

(1)

Why Qualitative Research?

5

(1)

Some Tools of the Trade

6

(3)

One Conceptualizing User Agency

9

(28)

Enter the User

9

(1)

The Social Construction of Technology: Insights and Controversies

10

(5)

Critical Theory of Technology

15

(5)

Semiotic Approaches: Technology-as-Text

20

(6)

A Pragmatic Approach: Technology-as-Language

26

(8)

Summary

34

(3)

Two Technology in Everyday Life

37

(39)

Introduction: What is Everyday Life?

37

(1)

The Schutzian Everyday Lifeworld

38

(12)

From the 'Head World' to the Material World: The Misery and Power of Everyday Life

50

(5)

Towards a Synthesis: Lifeworld and System

55

(3)

A Critical Phenomenology

58

(11)

The Home as a Site of Everyday Life

69

(4)

Summary

73

(3)

Three Researching the Internet at Home

76

(16)

The Blueprint in Hand

76

(4)

Respondent Recruitment

80

(2)

Net-Time Stories and the Art of Listening

82

(5)

The Respondents: Social-Biographical Situations

87

(1)

Data Analysis with a Little Help from Fairy Tales

87

(3)

Summary

90

(2)

Four Becoming a Domestic Internet User

92

(25)

Introduction

92

(1)

The Home Computer

93

(2)

Hooking up

95

(3)

Networking Knowledge and Skills: The Warm Expert

98

(5)

User-Technology Relations

103

(4)

The Embodiment Relation: (I-technology)-world

107

(1)

The Hermeneutic Relation: I-technology-world)

107

(3)

The Alterity Relation: Technology as a Quasi-Other

110

(1)

Amplifications and Reductions

111

(3)

Summary

114

(3)

Five Situating the Virtual: Little Behaviour Genres of the Internet

117

(20)

Introduction

117

(1)

Isolation

118

(5)

Relocation

123

(5)

Globally Spread Family and Social Networks

128

(3)

Uncertainty or Dissatisfaction with Current Job

131

(2)

Sense of Belonging to a Dispersed Community of Interest

133

(1)

Summary: Little Behaviour Genres of the Internet

134

(3)

Six Making Room for the Internet

137

(28)

Introduction

137

(1)

The Micro-regulation of the Internet

138

(2)

The Wired Basement

140

(5)

The Family Computer Room

145

(2)

Spatial Improvisations: Work versus Pleasure

147

(2)

The Gate in the Living Room

149

(7)

Internet Parenting

156

(4)

Summary: Inscribing the Internet

160

(5)

Seven Virtual Togetherness

165

(24)

Introduction

165

(4)

Infosumption: The Rationalistic Ideal of Internet Use

169

(1)

Instrumental Interaction: Rational and yet Social

170

(2)

Exploring Ideas in Virtual Public Spheres

172

(1)

Chatting: Sociability Unbound

173

(3)

Community as in Commitment

176

(4)

Between the Public and the Intimate: Gradients of Immediacy

180

(6)

Summary

186

(3)

Conclusion

189

(10)

Suggestions for Theory: Choices and Mediations in the User-Technology Relation

190

(2)

Suggestions for Political Practice: Grounded Visions of the Possible

192

(3)

Suggestions for Research: Critical Researchers as a Relevant Social Group

195

(2)

Final Reflections

197

(2)

Appendix: Respondent Description

199

(3)

References

202

(12)

Index

214

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Internet Society : The Internet in Everyday Life

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials