How much new media is too much new media?
In this week’s reading, Castells explores the networked society; its origins, its place in our contemporary society and what the future holds for new media Castells, 1999). New media has without a doubt shaped my existence, and probably that of everyone in my generation. But how much new media is too much new media?
Zittrian (2009) poses the question of what “ubiquitous human computing” will do to our lives, and talks about LiveOps, a company that enables people to work from their home as call center employees. If the speed at which the networked society has changed in the last decade is anything to go by, the next ten years will see our worlds rocked by even more technological advances. But in terms of working from home vs working not at home, will this be a good thing?
As discussed here, there are definitely benefits to having more choices in the workforce if you, for whatever reason, are unable to leave your house to work. Motherhood, illness, disability and even your geographical location could render you housebound in your job.
But for those who do not fit any of the abovementioned categories and simply choose not to work in an environment outside their home, is the concept of working from home simply an easy way out? It is important to have work/life balance in your life and the stimulation of a workplace environment (Iksold, 2008)
Let’s hope that the next round of changes to the networked society doesn’t turn us into this…..
Castells, M. (1999). ‘An Introduction to the Information Age’ in The Media Reader: Continuity & Transformation. Hugh Mackay & Tim O’Sullivan (eds),London: Sage: 398-410. Available from CMD.
Zittrain, Jonathan. 2009. “Minds for Sale”. YouTube video, posted November 29. Accessed April 20, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw3h-rae3uo&feature=youtu.be
Iksold, Alex. 2008. ‘The “work from home” generation.’ http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_work_from_home_generation.php
