The Social Dynamics of Information and Communication Technology [Hardcover]

What shapes the role of Information and Communication Technologies in our everyday life? Despite the speed with which information and communication technologies such as the PC, mobile telephone and internet have found their way into society, there remains a good deal of debate surrounding their adoption and use. Through empirical studies covering a broad range of everyday life and work settings, this volume provides grounded insights into the social dynamics influencing how ICTs are both shaped and experienced. Specifically, the book examines the contributions of diverse disciplines to our understanding of these processes, the symbolic nature of technologies, the influence of design on the experience of ICTs, the role of users in influencing that design, the social constraints affecting the use of those technologies, and strategies for evaluating the social consequences of ICT innovations.Contents: Introduction, Leslie Haddon, Enid Mante-Meijer and Eug?ne Loos. Part I Disciplinary Insights into the Social Dynamics of Innovation and Domestication: Computer anxiety in daily life: old history?, John Beckers, Henk Schmidt and Jelte Wicherts; ICTs and the human body: an empirical study in 5 countries, Alberta Contarello, Leopoldina Fortunati, Perdo Gomez Fernandez, Enid Mante-Meijer, Olga Vershinskaya and Daniel Volovici; The adoption of terrestrial digital TV: technology push, political will or users' choice?, Tomaz Turk, Bartolomeo Sapio and Isabella Maria Palombini; The flexible room: technology for communication and personalisation, Marianne Jensen, Heidi Rognskog Mella and Kristin Thrane. Part II The Internet as a Tool to Enable Users to Organise Everyday Life: Uses of the family internet sites: a virtual community between intimate space and public space, Fanny Carmagnat, Julie Deville and Aur?lia Mardon; Legal self-help and the internet, Lieve Gies; On older people, internet access and electronic service delivery: a study of sheltered homes, Maria Sourbati. Part lӟ