Becky Faith, ‘Technology as freedom and “unfreedom”‘: 28 November 2012, 2.00
The November SIRG meeting will be on Wednesday 28 November at 2.00 in the David Gorham Library (Venables N1015). Becky Faith will present the following talk.
Technology as freedom and ‘unfreedom’: capability theory and digital inclusion
Social theorists consider that the arrival of mass communications and ubiquitous networked digital technologies have transformed society: yet it is also clear that these transformations are experienced differently by different members of society. ‘Digital inclusion’ and the ‘digital divide’ evolved as a means to express the idea that access to the benefits of digital technology is linked to socio-economic benefit. In recent years debates about digital inclusion have evolved to respond to more sophisticated understanding of technology use – unpicking what is meant by access and engagement with digital technologies
This talk will look at digital inclusion in the UK today using the framework of capability theory, exploring how this theory might give us a language and framework to talk about technology and social justice.
Becky Faith is a PhD student in the Communication and Systems Department, looking at the role mobile phones might play in overcoming digital exclusion in the UK. She blogs about her research at http://beckyfaith.net and is @Becky_Faith on Twitter.