Digital Imagery as Social Mechanism: Community

1. SKETCH
Binaebi Akah » PROJECT 3.B I590 Spring 2010
Digital Imagery as Social Mechanism: Community

2. DESIGN RESEARCH
The word community has traditional and variable The photos shown visually represent differing
definitions, or so it seems to me. Traditionally, levels of technologically-mediated interactions
community has to do with a group of individuals in with communities of individuals.
the same location. Yet, with digital technologies,
The first is a physical representation of the abstract
we have the ability to feel connected to individuals
act of interfacing with an online community. It is
whether we are collocated or not.
an interesting commentary about the way people,
Thanks to technological methods of communication when interacting with online communities, seem
and connectivity, our understanding of community hidden from the persons who surround them. This
has altered. is interesting because of the fact that the persons
surrounding them would have traditionally been
What does this do to our notion of community?
considered their community.
We are able to sit at a computer surrounded by Does this mean we are enabled with the power of
people, not speak to them, and yet feel connected choice thanks to the presence of technologically-
to a community. mediated communities?
As shown with the tongue-in-cheek laptop Pictured second is a photo I took during a session
compubody sock, this community just so happens of Mad Skillz Club where one student taught
to be online, and therefore not collocated. InDesign tricks to her peers. This community is
collocated, sharing an interest, and interfacing
Despite not being collocated, we are able to feel
with technology. Though in this case, they used the
a part of a community because of the shared
technology to learn a skill set from one another.
interests, rather than shared location.
There is a tension between the traditional, I wonder, does this imply that technology allows
collocated community and the modern, shared us to learn things from one another that would
interest community. I am not saying one is better have been more difficult without said technology?
than the other.
I took the final photo at the Lunar New Year
Is it a bad thing to feel more connected to persons celebration. The students were playing a game,
met online? Are we losing valuable socializing and didn’t rely on technology. This is an example
skills when we prefer technologically-mediated of collocated persons, sharing an interest, and
communities? Are we enabling communities abandoning technology for an “unplugged” night.
that could not have existed otherwise with said In the long run, is technology aiding our ability to
technological mediation? Who are we to judge develop communities with one another, or should
what is the correct form of community? we worry for our future?
Binaebi Akah » PROJECT 3.B I590 Spring 2010
Digital Imagery as Social Mechanism: Community

3. ATTRIBUTIONS
Primary
Binaebi Akah
Unplugging from technology on a regular
basis helps maintain sanity, and allows us to
reestablish connections.
Secondary
“Wordle sketch” “Feb 12, 2010 Mad Skillz Club” “Laptop Compubody sock”
http://www.wordle.net Binaebi Akah, Bloomington IN Becky Stern, MAKE Associate editor
Text from Binaebi Akah, Eli Blevis http://www.flickr.com/photos/bekath-
Accessed February 13, 2010 wia/2462986853/in/set-72157604381050339/
Accessed February 13, 2010
Binaebi Akah » PROJECT 3.B I590 Spring 2010
Digital Imagery as Social Mechanism: Community