Unpacking User Relations in an Emerging Ubiquitous Computing Environment: Introducing the Bystander

Authors

Elaine Ferneley, IS, Organisations and Society Research Centre, University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, UKFollow
Ben Light, IS, Organisations and Society Research Centre, University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, UK

Document Type

Research Article

Abstract

The move towards technological ubiquity is allowing a more idiosyncratic and dynamic working environment to emerge that may result in the restructuring of information communication technologies, and changes in their use through different user groups’ actions. Taking a ‘practice’ lens to human agency, we explore the evolving roles of, and relationships between these user groups and their appropriation of emergent technologies by drawing upon Lamb and Kling's social actor framework. To illustrate our argument, we draw upon a study of a UK Fire Brigade that has introduced a variety of technologies in an attempt to move towards embracing mobile and ubiquitous computing. Our analysis of the enactment of such technologies reveals that Bystanders, a group yet to be taken as the central unit of analysis in information systems research, or considered in practice, are emerging as important actors. The research implications of our work relate to the need to further consider Bystanders in deployments other than those that are mobile and ubiquitous. For practice, we suggest that Bystanders require consideration in the systems development life cycle, particularly in terms of design and education in processes of use.

DOI

10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000123

Recommended Citation

Ferneley, Elaine and Light, Ben (2008) "Unpacking User Relations in an Emerging Ubiquitous Computing Environment: Introducing the Bystander," Journal of Information Technology: Vol. 23: Iss. 3, Article 3.
DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000123
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jit/vol23/iss3/3