This module explores theoretical contribution on technology and place including the emerging field of digital geography. The core theme represents an investigation into how our everyday lives are mediated and influenced by technology both the mundane and extraordinary. Technology is becoming ubiquitous to our engagements with the world around us and increasingly as we move around and experience places we do so equipped with sophisticated digital equipment. Changes in personal mobile technologies, such as GPS enabled smart phones and activity tracking apps often lead to changes in our culture and practices as we undertaken our everyday lives. For example, recent research on Navigational GPS, illustrates how the devices have changed people’s way finding behaviour, processes and practices with myriad intended and unintended consequences.

This module will explore how technology becomes interwoven and embedded into lives and practices as well as investigating the intended and unintended consequences that result from such technologization. People, technology and place will have a strong theoretical component which will explore how scholars investigate and model our interactions with technology and place. This will focus upon new materialist thinkers such as Latour and Michael and theories such as ‘practice theory’ and ‘actor-network theory’. These approaches have contributed to our understanding complex issues, which will be illustrated via academic case studies of specific technologies which have altered societal practices in some way.

Summative Assessment:

1 x 3000 word theoretically-informed essay based upon identifying how a specific technology has re-shaped a practice/behaviour, including an account of the dynamics of the change [Learning outcomes 1 – 6]

Formative Assessment:

Opportunities for ongoing formative feedback will be provided during class sessions via strategies such as discussion of key issues and formative feedback in-class. Students will also be provided with the opportunity to receive feedback on their essay plans.

The module will be delivered through a combination of:

Classes that will combine, on a flexible basis, seminars with workshop exercises and be used to introduce theoretical concepts and to explore case studies.

Independent learning through guided reading from core texts and the use of web-based materials to develop a detailed knowledge from new materialist thinkers.

Assessment Preparation for planning, researching and writing

Develop an understanding the issues associated with our increasing involvement with, and reliance upon, technology.

Understand how specific technologies have influenced and changed practices, lifestyles and society at large.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the concepts and theories relating to the technologisation of space and its myriad effects on life and society.

Critically evaluate the role of technology in shaping everyday practices by applying the appropriate theory and concepts.

A critical understanding of the potential value and uses of technology in terms of health and sustainability policy alongside the moral and ethical issues involved in this.

High quality teaching space with usual audio-visual facilities.
Library resources both physical and online.

Kitchin, R., Dodge, M. (2011) Code/Space: Software and Everyday Life. MIT Press, Cambridge MA.

Lupton, D. (2016) The Quantified Self, Polity Press, New York.

Michael, M. (2017) Actor-Network Theory: Trials, Trails and Translations. Sage, London.

Michael, M. (2009) Technoscience and Everyday Life, Open University Press, Maidenhead.

Shove, E., Pantzar, M., Watson, M. (2012) The Dynamics of Social Practice: Everyday Life and how it Changes. Sage, London.

Turkle, S. (2017) Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology but less from each other. Basic Books, New York.

White, D., Wilbert, C. (Eds)(2009) Technonatures: Environments, Technologies, Spaces, and Places in the Twenty-First Century. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, Waterloo.

PLUS up to date journal papers / articles set as reading each week.