Ubiquitous computing for industrial workplaces: cultural logics in designing for the 'real world'
Katharina E. Kinder-Kurlanda · 2008
Ubiquitous computing technologies as constituents of intelligent environments open up previously inaccessible situations for data capture and therefore are becoming a major focus of corporate and financial interests. This paper is about the specific setting of UK road maintenance and construction as an application domain. Drawing on examples from qualitative fieldwork I suggest that cultural logics such as health and safety and liabilities are central in legitimising the introduction of ubiquitous computing technologies. They have an essential role in people's reasoning about technologies in this setting. We therefore need to look at the 'broader picture' of current social and cultural logics in contemporary society in order to understand and improve design, deployment and use of technologies in intelligent environments. (5 pages)