Society seen through the prism of space: outline of a theory of society and space

Two questions challenge the student of space and society above all others: will new technologies change the spatial basis of society ? And if so, will this have an impact on society itself ? For the urbanist, these two questions crystallise into one: what will the future of cities have to do with their past ? Too often these questions are dealt with as though they were only matters of technology. But they are much more than that. They are deep and difficult questions about the interdependence of technology, space and society that we do not yet have the theoretical apparatus to answer. We know that previous �revolutions� in technology such as agriculture, urbanism and industrialisation associated radical changes in space with no less radical changes in social institutions. But we do not know how far these linkages were contingent or necessary. We do not, in short, have a theory of society and space adequate to account for where we are now, and therefore we have no reasonable theoretical base for speculating about the future. In this paper, I suggest that a major reason for this theoretical deficit is that most previous attempts to build a theory of society and space have looked at society and tried to find space in its output. The result has been that the constructive role of space in creating and and sustaining society has not been brought to the fore, or if it has, only in a way which is too general to permit the detailed specification of mechanisms. In this paper I try to reverse the normal order of things this by looking first at space and trying the discern society through space: by looking at society through the prism of space. Through this I try to define key mechanisms linking space to society and then use these to suggest how the questions about the future of cities and societies might be better defined

EXPLORING THE CREATION OF IMMERSIVE AND RESPONSIVE SPACES FOR INTERRELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF PLAYFULNESS

The COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 is causing serious damage to many countries. As of May, the number of confirmed patients worldwide is at 3.35 million and the death toll stands at 239,000 people. As a way to prevent the pandemic, most countries encourage people to keep social or physical distance and self-quarantine. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they recommend that people stay at least six feet away from each other and the South Korean government also recommend keeping their distance from each other at least two meters. Because of the current situation, the places where people can interact with each other, such as schools, businesses, restaurants, etc., are not able to function properly because of the prevention of people’s physical contact with each other and the need to ‘social distance’ and this is causing continued economic deterioration. Through this pandemic, I have realized once again how important interrelationships are in the society we belong to, and at the same time, how the society we live in has been changed by modern technologies. With the development of automobiles, machinery and technology day by day, these modern technologies have become a natural convergence of our society. But as a result, teenagers, in particular, were exposed too much to the information technology, such as mobile phones and computers, and such developments have caused a lack of thinking, creativity and physical abilities, resulting in a cut-off in communication with each other, and making it a non-face-to-face and isolated society. People in various fields, such as philosophy, sociology, and art, talk about how important each other\u27s interrelationship plays a role in shaping the framework of society. While the development of technology is increasing the number of people who are becoming isolated from society, the development of these technologies now helps people engaging in constant exchanges to escape the isolated environment by allowing them to see and communicate with each other at a time when they have to maintain a distance of more than six feet or be isolated at home by the COVID-19 pandemic. An important difference in the impact of technology on well-being lies in other aspects of technology, how it is used, and with other users and situations. Just as the technological developments exemplify the potential to have a positive impact on people\u27s lives, I also aim to apply a positive use of technology to create a virtual interactive space where people can once again feel how important interrelationships are in our society through experiences. I have so far emphasized two things, the concept of playfulness and designing a virtual interactive space optimized for engagement and play, for the past two years to create the virtual space based on my experience. The goal of my thesis work, based on the two things that I have emphasized greatly above, is to build an environment in which audiences can share various movements through cooperation without being restricted by their actions or aware of the surrounding environment, to enhance their thinking, creativity, and engaged living by using the design I envisioned through instilling positive emotions. Unfortunately, my thesis work could not be installed due to the current pandemic and it is also unclear that if the design I structured for people was successful. It greatly affected the development of work, and made it impossible to install and interact with various players in that it is necessary to return to South Korea due to the closure of the studio and the pandemic

City, space and place in the digital age : an analysis of how technology shapes our everyday experience of space in cities : a case-study analysis of a coworking space : second home Lisbon

The aim of this dissertation is the analysis of how technology shapes our everyday experience of space in cities. Focusing on a new urban typology, the coworking space, it looks towards emerging practices, and new patterns of behaviour, shaped or mediated by technology. Current literature projects an increasingly greater impact of technology on society, ranging from the very concept of ‘smart cities’ to the manner in which personal devices seamlessly integrate into our lives. In order to access this impact, the current work relied on the case-study analysis of a coworking space – Second Home Lisbon – which stands out in the local context for its unique spatiality and strong cultural programme. After the elaboration of the theoretical framework, documental analysis provided a complete recognition of the object, and finally, in situ observational research was undertaken for a month, and a members’ survey was conducted. For the observational research process, a grid of analysis was developed, consisting of several categories: privacy, community, mobility, communication, cooperation, and legacy patterns. It was argued that all these categories have a spatial underpinning and, in addition to informing on a specific layer of the object, they also constitute relevant dimensions of everyday life, which have potentially been affected by technology. As a conclusion, this work highlights the contradiction between the apparent dematerializing of work and the growing number of spaces for working, asserting the importance of place, still. Furthermore, it considers that technology has affected the way we experience space, and that is seen on the coworking space on both a macro or external level, in the conceptual co-construction of the narratives of the coworking space and, on a micro or internal level, in the manner in which people perceive and appropriate the space

ICT loves agglomeration The urban impacts of ICT in the Netherlands

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has had an undeniable impact on our society. Some people argue that technology has projected us onto a new wave of social and cultural change. Nevertheless, despite the growth of technology and the social significance of its applications, we have only a poor grasp of its actual impact on the use of physical space. The key question addressed in this paper is therefore: how will ICT influence the spatial-economic patterns of business activities in the Netherlands? In offering answers to this question, the paper develops a conceptual framework that distinguishes two roles of ICT in spatial-economic development: that of a ‘motor’, enhancing productivity and encourages the development of economic sectors, and that of an ‘enabler’ (of e-work, e-commerce and e-business), which may lead households and firms to adopt a different attitude to space requirements. The paper is based on a thorough survey of the current literature on the subject, the results of a recent survey of ICT’s impact on society, and original empirical research into specific factors such as ICT companies’ location preferences and the willingness of knowledge workers to commute. The paper presents an assessment of the usefulness of these concepts in terms of the Dutch situation, both today and in the future. We conclude that Information and Communication Technology has not yet had a marked visible impact on the use of space. To the contrary, despite predictions neither Dutch companies (particularly those in the ICT sector) nor knowledge workers display any unusual degree of mobility at the local or regional s 2perfect substitute for ‘traditional’ behavioural patterns. Nevertheless, there are clear indications that the ‘spatial order’ of the Netherlands is likely to change. Although it is likely that ICT will consolidate underlying spatial patterns, on the regional aggregate changes are occurring within those patterns. While (inner) cities have traditionally been the breeding ground for new ICT companies, this function has now largely been taken over by the outlying city regions, in which multiple clusters of economic activity are emerging: a process of ‘splintering urbanism’. However, despite this regionalized pattern of deconcentration, the traditional city centres continue to fulfil a number of essential functions. These centres remain the meeting places, and the shopping and entertainment centres for businesses and households (the ‘Consumer City’). In the processes of deconcentration and multimodality, ICT should be seen to play an important facilitating and strengthening role. cale. ICT does not function as a 2perfect substitute for ‘traditional’ behavioural patterns. Nevertheless, there are clear indications that the ‘spatial order’ of the Netherlands is likely to change. Although it is likely that ICT will consolidate underlying spatial patterns, on the regional aggregate changes are occurring within those patterns. While (inner) cities have traditionally been the breeding ground for new ICT companies, this function has now largely been taken over by the outlying city regions, in which multiple clusters of economic activity are emerging: a process of ‘splintering urbanism’. However, despite this regionalized pattern of deconcentration, the traditional city centres continue to fulfil a number of essential functions. These centres remain the meeting places, and the shopping and entertainment centres for businesses and households (the ‘Consumer City’). In the processes of deconcentration and multimodality, ICT should be seen to play an important facilitating and strengthening role.

Space Weather and Financial Systems: Findings and Outlook. An event co-organised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Centre 27 June, 2014, London, UK

Space weather can affect both ground-based and space-borne infrastructures, potentially resulting in failures or service disruptions across the globe and causing damage to equipment and systems. With society having become increasingly reliant on the services these infrastructures provide, a more thorough analysis of the risk due to extreme space weather is warranted. Most studies on the impact of space weather on infrastructures focus on the high-voltage power grid, aviation and communication. A less well-known area of potential vulnerability is the impact of space weather on the financial services sector. Elements of this sector’s operations depend on accurate timing, a service which is increasingly provided by space based – and therefore space weather prone - technologies. The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), for example, is commonly used for deriving time stamps for financial transactions. In order to address this topic, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration jointly organised the “Space weather and financial services” workshop in London on 27 June 2014. The half-day workshop was attended by 50 representatives of the financial service industry, insurance, European and US government agencies, regulators, academia and the European Commission. The objectives of the workshop were to discuss the potential impact of extreme space weather on financial services, in particular through the effect on timing systems of a loss of GNSS services, and to raise the awareness of this risk in the sector. This report presents the findings of this workshop.JRC.G.5-Security technology assessmen

Volunteering Reinvented: Human Capital Solutions for the Nonprofit Sector

To grow and adapt in today's continuously changing society, a nonprofit organization must recognize the value and contribution of both its paid staff and volunteers. Simply recruiting large numbers of volunteers, however, does not necessarily translate into success for the nonprofit sector or the community at large. Successful results are achieved when an organization is able to support, mobilize, and manage its volunteer resources for the greatest possible impact on a problem or need.In a competitive environment where resources are often scarce, nonprofit executives and boards of directors have become more strategic about how they leverage the various resources at their disposal:money, space, inkind donations, equipment, technology, and employees. Unfortunately, however, one of the most powerful and plentiful resources of all -- volunteers -- continues to receive short shrift from nonprofit leadership. This paper is intended to educate nonprofit executives about volunteering as a key human resource strategy, illustrate that volunteering is not just nice but necessary, and demonstrate the value volunteers bring to an organization that strategically plans for how to use them both to support infrastructure and to deliver programs and services

Освіта як суспільна технологія (Education as a social technology)

У статті освіта розглядається як суспільна технологія. Головна увага зосереджена на освіті як необхідній умові прогресивного розвитку суспільства. Розкрито і проаналізовано соціальну сутність поняття «освіта» та її вплив на суспільний розвиток. Акцентується увага на сучасних вимогах суспільства до освіти, зумовлених глобалізаційними та інтеграційними процесами. Аналізується розвиток сучасної освіти в різноманітних напрямах (Education as a social technology is considered in the proposed material. It refers to the social problems and is associated with the process of socialization. The main focus is on education as a necessary condition for the progressive development of society. Education, as a social technology, is seen in modern conditions – when almost a single global information space is formed and the processes of globalization and integration gain momentum. The author traces the mechanisms of education as a social technology for the opportunity to make this process adequate and one that meets the needs of the society and the education system. The social nature of the concept «education» and its impact on social development are revealed and analyzed. Attention is focused on the modern requirements of society to education due to globalization and integration processes. The development of modern education in different ways is analyzed. This problem is discussed in academic circles of Ukrainian and foreign scientists, as education is a priority in the development of human society and deserves special attention in the context of a scientific approach to solving the problems of today

An Overview of Science Challenges Pertaining to our Understanding of Extreme Geomagnetically Induced Currents

Vulnerability of man-made infrastructure to Earth-directed space weather events is a serious concern for today's technology-dependent society. Space weather-driven geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can disrupt operation of extended electrically conducting technological systems. The threat of adverse impacts on critical technological infrastructure, like power grids, oil and gas pipelines, and communication networks, has sparked renewed interest in extreme space weather. Because extreme space weather events have low occurrence rate but potentially high impact, this presents a major challenge for our understanding of extreme GIC activity. In this chapter, we discuss some of the key science challenges pertaining to our understanding of extreme events. In addition, we present an overview of GICs including highlights of severe impacts over the last 80 years and recent U.S. Federal actions relevant to this community