E-grāmata: Computers, Phones, and the Internet: Domesticating Information Technology

North American and European researchers in psychology, communications, and sociology explore how the everyday use of mobile phones, computers, and the Internet is changing the lives of their users and those around them. Bringing empirical evidence to the debate, they address factors that have a direct domestic or community effect and that are potentially measurable (once the theoretical and methodological bugs are worked out, of course). Social change, home and family, community, teenage life, and social relationships are the dimensions considered. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

During the past decade, technology has become more pervasive, encroaching more and more on our lives. Computers, cell phones, and the internet have an enormous influence not only on how we function at work, but also on how we communicate and interact outside the office. Researchers have been documenting the effect that these types of technology have on individuals, families, and other social groups. Their work addresses questions that relate to how people use computers, cell phones, and the internet, how they integrate their use of new technology into daily routines, and how family function, social relationships, education, and socialization are changing as a result. This research is being conducted in a number of countries, by scientists from a variety of disciplines, who publish in very different places. The result is that it is difficult for researchers and students to get a current and coherent view of the research literature. This book brings together the leading researchers currently investigating the impact of information and communication technology outside of the workplace. Its goal is to develop a consolidated view of what we collectively know in this fast-changing area, to evaluate approaches to data collection and analysis, and to identify future directions for research. The book will appeal to professionals and students in social psychology, human-technology interaction, sociology, and communication.