The commodification of location: Dynamics of power in location-based systems

Irina Shklovski; Janet Vertesi; Emily Troshynski; Paul Dourish

doi:10.1145/1620545.1620548

The commodification of location: Dynamics of power in location-based systems

Irina Shklovski, Janet Vertesi, Emily Troshynski, Paul Dourish

University of California

Research output: Journal Article or Conference Article in Journal › Conference article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Location-based ubiquitous computing systems are entering mainstream society and becoming familiar parts of everyday life. However, the settings in which they are deployed are already suffused with complex social dynamics. We report on a study of parole officers and parolees whose relationships are being transformed by location-based technologies. While parolees are clearly subjects of state discipline, the parole officers also find themselves subject to new responsibilities. This study highlights the complexities of power in sociotechnical systems and what happens when location becomes a tradable, technological object.

Original language	English
Journal	UbiComp
ISSN	0000-0039
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/1620545.1620548
Publication status	Published - 2009
Event	Ubicomp 2009: 11th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing - Orlando, Florida, United States Duration: 30 Sept 2009 → 3 Oct 2009 Conference number: 11th http://www.ubicomp.org/ubicomp2009/

Conference

Conference	Ubicomp 2009
Number	11th
Country/Territory	United States
City	Orlando, Florida
Period	30/09/2009 → 03/10/2009
Internet address	http://www.ubicomp.org/ubicomp2009/

Keywords

Location-based ubiquitous computing
Sociotechnical systems
Power dynamics
Parole monitoring
Technological objectification

Access to Document

10.1145/1620545.1620548

http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1620545.1620548&coll=DL&dl=ACM&CFID=297131655&CFTOKEN=97794751

Cite this

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title = "The commodification of location: Dynamics of power in location-based systems",

abstract = "Location-based ubiquitous computing systems are entering mainstream society and becoming familiar parts of everyday life. However, the settings in which they are deployed are already suffused with complex social dynamics. We report on a study of parole officers and parolees whose relationships are being transformed by location-based technologies. While parolees are clearly subjects of state discipline, the parole officers also find themselves subject to new responsibilities. This study highlights the complexities of power in sociotechnical systems and what happens when location becomes a tradable, technological object.",

keywords = "Location-based ubiquitous computing, Sociotechnical systems, Power dynamics, Parole monitoring, Technological objectification, Location-based ubiquitous computing, Sociotechnical systems, Power dynamics, Parole monitoring, Technological objectification",

author = "Irina Shklovski and Janet Vertesi and Emily Troshynski and Paul Dourish",

note = "This is a publication, available in the ACM digital library, but I can't find a way to indicate this. It is not simply a conference paper, this is published in ACM proceedings. This was misfiled last year and should be in the Ubicomp publication under the journal article->conference article classification; Ubicomp 2009 : 11th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing ; Conference date: 30-09-2009 Through 03-10-2009",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1145/1620545.1620548",

language = "English",

journal = "UbiComp",

issn = "0000-0039",

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AU - Vertesi, Janet

AU - Troshynski, Emily

AU - Dourish, Paul

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PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Location-based ubiquitous computing systems are entering mainstream society and becoming familiar parts of everyday life. However, the settings in which they are deployed are already suffused with complex social dynamics. We report on a study of parole officers and parolees whose relationships are being transformed by location-based technologies. While parolees are clearly subjects of state discipline, the parole officers also find themselves subject to new responsibilities. This study highlights the complexities of power in sociotechnical systems and what happens when location becomes a tradable, technological object.

AB - Location-based ubiquitous computing systems are entering mainstream society and becoming familiar parts of everyday life. However, the settings in which they are deployed are already suffused with complex social dynamics. We report on a study of parole officers and parolees whose relationships are being transformed by location-based technologies. While parolees are clearly subjects of state discipline, the parole officers also find themselves subject to new responsibilities. This study highlights the complexities of power in sociotechnical systems and what happens when location becomes a tradable, technological object.

KW - Location-based ubiquitous computing

KW - Sociotechnical systems

KW - Power dynamics

KW - Parole monitoring

KW - Technological objectification

KW - Location-based ubiquitous computing

KW - Sociotechnical systems

KW - Power dynamics

KW - Parole monitoring

KW - Technological objectification

U2 - 10.1145/1620545.1620548

DO - 10.1145/1620545.1620548

M3 - Conference article

SN - 0000-0039

JO - UbiComp

JF - UbiComp

T2 - Ubicomp 2009

Y2 - 30 September 2009 through 3 October 2009

ER -

The commodification of location: Dynamics of power in location-based systems

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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