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designer responded that an aerial pointing down
was out of question - it would look so stupid that
no one would buy it.
The example above illustrates that design mat-
ters, sometimes in a very concrete way, in terms
of our welfare. The designer could have taken an
active role and started to talk openly about the
health risks. It might even have resulted in com-
mercial success, if the message had been skilfully
communicated.
us to critically consider the social and mental
impact of the mainstream trends in the penetration
of mobile technologies. We do not believe that
the developers' aim is to increase peoples' stress
levels or to disturb family life by binding people
to invisible networks, from which they cannot free
themselves. But perhaps we simply developed the
technology with an inadequate understanding of
human nature.
WIDGET-ASSISTED FAMILY LIFE
BEING CONNECTED TO
WORK: WITH CHAINS?
We are constantly being reminded that our cul-
ture is rapidly changing due to our exploitation
of mobile devices. Indeed, the change has been
salient in everyday family life. We have been
given the impression, that when everyone has a
mobile device in their pocket, communication
among family members is fluent and immediate.
Parents welcome tiny widgets which enable ef-
fortless control of their offspring.
What about family life and the relationships
between family members then? If mobile technol-
ogy has enhanced communication in families,
it should have also strengthened family ties.
Some people argue that this is the case (see for
example a recent study by Kennedy et al., 2008).
In particular, it is argued that long distance family
communication is easier with the help of mobile
devices and the internet. Mobile devices we are
told also make it possible to keep in touch despite
the hectic rhythm of life. However, the same study
reveals that families, in which digital communi-
cation devices are heavily used, are less likely
to have their meals together. The same group of
families also reported being less satisfied with
their leisure time.
With almost 100% mobile phone penetration it
is now extremely easy to contact a family member.
However, the changes in terms of how people live
their daily lives deserve a closer, critical look. Is
it really the case that mobile phones have helped
support communication in our hectic lives, or are
Being constantly connected to digital commu-
nication channels via small, portable devices
is somewhat of a double edged sword. From
the point of view of the employers' short term
benefits; it might sound ideal that almost half of
US employees do at least some work from home,
via digital networks. Quite often, the opportunity
to be connected to your work is presented as an
opportunity to flexibly share time between your
work life and your private life. On the other hand,
however, if 70% of Blackberry and PDA owners
check their work related emails at the weekends,
suspicions are evoked as to whether it is a ques-
tion of reciprocal flexibility anymore. Even more
suspicious is the recent observation that 22% of
employees claim that they are expected to be
reachable through e-mail outside working hours.
(Madden & Jones, 2008).
During the last two years, the sad news of
France Télécom has received a lot of publicity.
From the introduction of mobile email in January
2008, at least 46 employees have committed sui-
cide (New York Times, 2010). Even if the causal
relationship between the suicide wave and 24/7
email access is probably impossible to show, at
least one top executive of the company has pub-
licly concluded that such a relationship exists.
Even if this is, from scientific perspective, still
merely speculation, the case at least challenges
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