Continuous Connectivity, Handheld Computers, and Mobile Spatial Knowledge

• DOI: 10.1068/d14112
• Publication Date: 2014-06-03T15:16:15Z
• Authors: Matthew W Wilson
• Keywords: Affordance; Volunteered Geographic Information; Interactivity

As geospatial information seemingly moves from users' personal computers to ‘the cloud’, the use of phrase ‘geographic technologies’ has increasingly indicated things beyond desktop GIS. With these shifts in distribution data and practices, rise geoweb as a site inquiry, new concepts are needed better understand conditions geographic technologies. In this paper I conceptualize one such element interactivity: Connection. Here, argue that logic continuous connectivity underlies development digital spatial media influences contemporary production knowledge. For those lives lived presumed be ‘always connected’, interactions figured by connections media. Many devices (especially mobile ones) become functional only through series communication networks. instance, phones regardless direct use, ‘listening’ cellular towers analyzing proximity deliver best possible connection. From system-level codes maintain device software-level push pull being always connected is part cultural milieu diverse implications not for attention but also collective, situate emergence marketing handheld late 1990s, historicize importance connection understanding practices.