[IxDA Discuss] The Third Place: We're designing it now.

[Nancy Broden]

On 9/22/07, Christina Wodtke <cwodtke at eleganthack.com> wrote:
> It brings up the question "Are Social Networks, Media and Software the
> new third place?"

Much of my work is now focused on issues related to social networks
and mobility, and your question relates to a key trend I have
observed.

Location independence is a significant outcome of the tight
integration of personal communication devices into our daily lives.
This means that we no longer need to be in a given physical location
in order to satisfy emotional needs that could only previously be met
at home, work, shopping mall, etc. The "third place" you mention is
our mobile virtual space that co-exists (and/or sometimes conflicts)
with our physical circumstances.

What is interesting is that we frequently opt into these virtual
spaces not only when at work or home, when lonely or bored, but even
when we are actively engaged with others. The interactions mediated by
our mobile devices, be it via SMS, IM, email or other, have
increasingly as much weight (sometimes more weight) than our physical
ones.

-- Nancy
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nancy.broden at gmail.com