Class Acts

While Wellman argues that the current Glocalization is giving way to a global, information-based Networked Individualism, I am not convinced that “meatspace” is becoming obsolete. Instead, I see that while mobile technology is indeed allowing for a nonspatial social scene, people are quickly finding new ways to link previously detatched information to locations. These locations are not always local, so it is still a sign of increased globalization; but I think that the still-recent lack of adequate mapping technology gave a false sense, for a while, that people no longer cared about place.

One fascinating local tool is a Google Maps application called the Gmaps Pedometer. You can trace a jogging or biking route on the map, and it will calculate cumulative mileage, calories burned, and even when to take rests. This popular new application is intensely local and spatial, when used for the intended purpose, and requires more physical activity than most of us are comfortable with. A shocking departure from pure bytes, indeed. Sites like Freecycle and Craigslist rely on location to organize transactions, though it’s true that such deals are more interest-related and less face-to-face activities than walking into a store or going jogging. Google Maps mashups are existent or certainly forthcoming for Freecycle, Craigslist, Ebay, etc, further allowing for a more visual and spatial organization of location data.

On the global side, map mashups are quicky proliferating as a tool for awareness, journalism, and political lobbying. The Tunisian Prison Map was somewhat of a landmark in political mashup history (as recent as it has been!). Another interesting case is Greenpeace France’s Genetically Engineered Corn Google Maps mashup. After the French Government banned the mashup, Greenpeace France created crop circle symbols to mark the sites in real life. The interplay between online and offline information is becoming more graceful, more common, more suited to the needs of the people, and more easily authored by laymen. Map mashups are, after all, a Web 2.0 phenomenon.

One final example is Facebook. Facebook is often touted as a superior social networking application to Myspace and others because it has different kinds and levels of networks within it, and privacy controls for each. A user can belong to up to five networks, though most only belong to one or two. Networks are available for colleges, high schools, companies, and regions. Events, groups, and other tools can be specified as pertaining to specific networks. People are eagerly rushing to define themselves not just by their interests, but by their geographical communities and the things they see every day in the real world. This is another sign that while people are becoming less dependent on location in order to communicate, one important aspect of themselves as a person that they want to communicate is location. This seemingly enduring importance of physical and spatial identity in the human psyche should be reassuring to those who, like me, need to be reminded that they are not defined solely by their online presence.

Next (or soon thereafter): what is an “online presence” anyway?