Weblog (5): Time and Space Dimensions

Time and space dimensions


The dimensions of space and time within digital communities differ greatly from traditional social structures. Within heavily networked societies, the value ‘time’ is used selectively, without the need for a specific space. New digital technologies facilitate a freedom from time, a cultural escape from the demands and pressures of traditional clock time (Castells, 2000).
In the technologically advanced civilisations of the first world, time and space have almost been nullified. The way people partake in digital communities, how they interact with, experience and conduct themselves within their spheres of living, are almost boundless with regards to those two dimensions. Castells (2000) refers to the use of technology to escape the dimension of time and labelled the social time of a network society as ‘timeless time’.
Ferguson (1990) argues that space and time cannot completely be nullified. Both are still vital to certain strategic decisions made. In particular, corporations, entrepreneurs and individuals remain attentive to location and schedules with respect to their business activities, especially those business activities that are influenced by local needs and decisions.
Time restrictions are therefore broken by the spread of customs or traditions while space restrictions are broken by the elevating reach of communication and distribution (Van Dijk, 2006). In each case information is stored to be used at the individual actor’s discretion or saved as a resource for anticipated future needs (2006).
Though space and time dimensions in the digital sphere are indeed diminishing, they currently appear to remain important within traditional spheres.


References:

Ferguson, M. 1990. ‘Electronic media and the redefining of time and space’, in M. Ferguson (ed.), Public Communication: the New Imperatives. London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Van Dijk, J. 2006. The Network Society: Social Aspects of New Media. 2nd ed. London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Castells, M. 2000. The rise of the network society. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers