Technologies of ubiquitous computing and mobile communication are finally
coming of age with the advent of portable devices such as smartphones,
ipods, PDAs and personal media players. Since the late nineties, we have
seen a growing body of research that documents how users mobilize these
technologies in a wide range of environments, ranging from traditional
user studies sites such as home and workplace, to newer sites such as
restaurants, public transporation, and the street. As ICTs move off the
desktop into a wide range of unpredictable and "undisciplined"
places, particularly in dense urban environments such as Tokyo, users
face a wide range of challenges in managing their simultaneous presence
in varied settings and the online communication and information space.
In tandem with these changes in technologies and user practice, research
methodologies need to adapt in order to capture the relevant details of
user behavior in these new kinds of environments and practices. Unlike
the study of stationary ICT use in relatively predictable settings, portable
technology use is difficult to document and capture in its fleeting particularities.
While we now have a substantial body of research on the study of portable
ICTs, there is yet to be a reflective synthesis of what we have learned
about data collection, research ethics, and analysis for this type of
study.
We are at a key moment in the development of the area of studies of portable
ICTs. Consumer portable technology, at least in high tech cities like
Tokyo, have evolved to the point that they can be valuable tools for data
gathering in environments outside of home and workplace. In social research
of mobility and portable technologies, we are transitioning from an experimental
stage to a stage where we can develop robust methodological frameworks
and standards. Finally, emerging technology developments in high-tech
urban areas, with the spread of location based services, electronic wallets,
and portable media players promise to make this area of study critically
important for defining the future of ICTs. The Tokyo location promises
to provide a stimulating site for exploring these topics.
|