The Gigatown Competition in New Zealand: competition as digital infrastructure allocation?

2018 ◽  
Vol 168 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Eva Katherine Randell-Moon
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Future Viability ◽  
Promotional Materials ◽  
Ict Infrastructure ◽  
Infrastructure Allocation

The Gigatown Competition (2013-2015) was a joint initiative between the telecommunications company Chorus and the New Zealand government to award a New Zealand town ‘the fastest internet in the Southern Hemisphere’ through a social media competition. Towns accrued points based on the volume of social media content related to the Competition and the benefits of ultra-fast broadband (UFB). I undertake a discourse analysis of select promotional materials and participation in the Competition to show how support for UFB as a necessary infrastructure for the New Zealand economy was achieved. I argue the Gigatown initiative mobilises a form of community participation in information and communications technologies (ICT) infrastructure premised on urban centres and towns competing against one another for their future viability. The success of the Competition and enthusiastic participation of towns in South Island can be contextualised by the governing and economic rationalities of urban austerity.

scholarly journals A Proposal for Assessing Digital Economy Spatial Readiness at Tourism Destinations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 11002
Author(s):  
Vicente Ramos ◽  
Maurici Ruiz-Pérez ◽  
Bartomeu Alorda
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Balearic Islands ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Regional Approach ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

Information and communications technologies (ICT)—and more precisely, their use from fulltime connected mobile gadgets—offer valuable opportunities to interact with tourists using their own devices. In order to exploit these benefits, destinations should have appropriate digital infrastructure to allow for bidirectional smart communication with their visitors. However, the spatial distribution of such coverage, and the geographical concurrence of tourism activities and ICT infrastructure, have been poorly examined. This paper contributes to this analysis by quantifying digital accessibility with both a broader regional approach and a narrower local perspective. First, we propose a digital immersion index, and apply it to the Balearic Islands, Spain. Second, alternative Moran’s indices are used to study the spatial distribution and correlation of tourism and technological infrastructure for a local destination. The results are presented through easily interpretable maps, which can inform tourism policies, such as identifying and prioritizing ITC investments.

Technology Issues and the New ICTs

Leonardo ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Verzola
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Public Ownership ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Compulsory Licensing ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

The author provides examples of low-cost information and communications technologies (ICTs) and suggests five major strategies for their low-cost deployment in developing countries: (1) appropriate technology, (2) free/open software, (3) compulsory licensing, (4) pay-per-use public stations and (5) community/public ownership of ICT infrastructure. Aside from the problems of affordability and universal access, the author identifies the Internet's built-in biases for (1) English, (2) subsidizing globalization, (3) automation and (4) the technofix, and explores the implications of these biases. The challenge is not only to design affordable and accessible technologies or to redesign technologies to be consistent with our deeply held values, but also to make ourselves less technology dependent.

scholarly journals Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies: a Conceptual Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haya Ajjan ◽  
Stefanie Beninger ◽  
Rania Mostafa ◽  
Victoria L. Crittenden
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
New Information ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Role Of Information

Cyberfeminism is a woman-centered perspective that advocates women’s use of new information and communications technologies for empowerment. This paper explores the role of information technologies, in particular the role of social media, in empowering women entrepreneurship in emerging economies via increased social capital and improved self-efficacy. A conceptual model is offered and propositions are explicated.

scholarly journals Stories From an (Un)lived Past: Applying Narrative Theory, Vicarious Nostalgia and Brand Authenticity to Urban Outfitters' Instagram Advertising Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Rizzardo
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Multimodal Approach ◽  
Major Research ◽  
Brand Authenticity ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
The Social ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
Social Media Platforms

This study develops a narrative-focused analytic model that assesses how a brand communicates its narrative identity by incorporating vicarious nostalgia as a branding practice. Nostalgia as a branding strategy aims to leverage affect and emotion in consumption practices. This is carried out via engagement with stories of an era primarily unlived by the brand’s targeted consumer base. In the presence of nostalgic associations, this strategy facilitates the impression of brand longevity and, thus, brand authenticity and legitimacy. This major research paper applies these theoretical discourses to a case study of the American lifestyle brand Urban Outfitters’ digital advertising implementations on Instagram. A multimodal approach guided the analysis of narrative communication patterns that occurred throughout the 2014 calendar year on the brand’s Instagram account. The findings indicate that Urban Outfitters uses Instagram’s digital infrastructure to facilitate a cohesive brand narrative that is both temporally and causally structured. This narrative encompasses plotlines, settings, and characters of an idealized era that the brand’s targeted consumer base is unacquainted with yet endeavours to elicit consumer identification with the brand nonetheless. Finally, by using an authentic mode of communication as well as cues that faithfully depict the character and culture of a former era, Urban Outfitters generates the same projections of authenticity that nostalgic brands with longstanding histories have by virtue of age. This project offers suggestions for further research including the adaptation of the study to other social media platforms, as well as expanding it to integrate user response to the social media content.

A Method of Analysing the Use of Social Networking Sites in Business

2013 ◽  
pp. 794-813
Author(s):  
Sanaa Askool ◽  
Aimee Jacobs ◽  
Keiichi Nakata
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Collaborative Environment ◽  
Communications Technologies

Organisations have used information and communications technologies (ICT) to gain a competitive advantage. Presently, social media, in particular, social networking sites play a crucial role in business and enable a collaborative environment for business activities through networked relationships. Despite the benefits offered, many businesses are reluctant to use these tools because of privacy, security, and cultural issues. Through a literature review of the environment this chapter provides an overview of the ways businesses can use social media, and background information for understanding the growth and importance of social networks and social networking sites. One of the ways to prepare for future growth is to analyse social media in a business environment by using Earl’s model of evolution as a framework. Investigating and understanding the influence of Web 2.0 on business should provide professionals and enterprises with a better understanding of how this tool can be integrated with work activities.

scholarly journals Stories From an (Un)lived Past: Applying Narrative Theory, Vicarious Nostalgia and Brand Authenticity to Urban Outfitters' Instagram Advertising Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Rizzardo
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Multimodal Approach ◽  
Major Research ◽  
Brand Authenticity ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
The Social ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
Social Media Platforms

This study develops a narrative-focused analytic model that assesses how a brand communicates its narrative identity by incorporating vicarious nostalgia as a branding practice. Nostalgia as a branding strategy aims to leverage affect and emotion in consumption practices. This is carried out via engagement with stories of an era primarily unlived by the brand’s targeted consumer base. In the presence of nostalgic associations, this strategy facilitates the impression of brand longevity and, thus, brand authenticity and legitimacy. This major research paper applies these theoretical discourses to a case study of the American lifestyle brand Urban Outfitters’ digital advertising implementations on Instagram. A multimodal approach guided the analysis of narrative communication patterns that occurred throughout the 2014 calendar year on the brand’s Instagram account. The findings indicate that Urban Outfitters uses Instagram’s digital infrastructure to facilitate a cohesive brand narrative that is both temporally and causally structured. This narrative encompasses plotlines, settings, and characters of an idealized era that the brand’s targeted consumer base is unacquainted with yet endeavours to elicit consumer identification with the brand nonetheless. Finally, by using an authentic mode of communication as well as cues that faithfully depict the character and culture of a former era, Urban Outfitters generates the same projections of authenticity that nostalgic brands with longstanding histories have by virtue of age. This project offers suggestions for further research including the adaptation of the study to other social media platforms, as well as expanding it to integrate user response to the social media content.

A Method of Analysing the Use of Social Networking Sites in Business

2012 ◽  
pp. 119-139
Author(s):  
Sanaa Askool ◽  
Aimee Jacobs ◽  
Keiichi Nakata
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Collaborative Environment ◽  
Communications Technologies

Organisations have used information and communications technologies (ICT) to gain a competitive advantage. Presently, social media, in particular, social networking sites play a crucial role in business and enable a collaborative environment for business activities through networked relationships. Despite the benefits offered, many businesses are reluctant to use these tools because of privacy, security, and cultural issues. Through a literature review of the environment this chapter provides an overview of the ways businesses can use social media, and background information for understanding the growth and importance of social networks and social networking sites. One of the ways to prepare for future growth is to analyse social media in a business environment by using Earl’s model of evolution as a framework. Investigating and understanding the influence of Web 2.0 on business should provide professionals and enterprises with a better understanding of how this tool can be integrated with work activities.

The Afterlives of Georges Perec

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Georges Perec ◽  
Electronic Communications ◽  
Art And Design ◽  
Games Studies ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Shed Light

Georges Perec is widely acknowledged as one of the most important writers of the twentieth century. His far-reaching influence has inspired many fields of creativity, extending far beyond literature itself.The Afterlives of Georges Perec examines the impact of Perec’s ideas, writing and analytical experimentation in architecture, art and design, media, electronic communications and computing, and studies of the everyday. It asks: what are the lessons that architects, artists, game-designers and writers can draw from Perec’s fascination with creative constraints? What do his descriptions of the minutiae of everyday life reveal about use of information and communications technologies? What happens if we readLife A User’s Manual as a toolbox of ideas for games studies? How might his fascination with the ‘infra-ordinary’ shed light on the uses of contemporary social media? What insights might Perec’s use of algorithmic writing generate for the digital humanities? Through an examination of such questions, this collection takes Perec scholarship beyond its existing limits to offer new ways of rethinking our present.

“It’s Fantasy Football Made Real”: Networked Media Sport, the Internet, and the Hybrid Reality of Myfootballclub

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Hutchins ◽  
David Rowe ◽  
Andy Ruddock
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Fantasy Football ◽  
Cultural Complex ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
The Media

MyFootballClub (MFC) is a popular computer game, Web site, online networking experiment, business model, and an actual soccer club. This article uses MFC to address the question of how networked media sport is reshaping the media sports cultural complex (Rowe, 2004). Our aim is to show how the professionalization and mediatization of sport has created a longing to reconstruct a kind of communitas around supporter participation in the ownership and running of their team. We conclude by suggesting that it is now time to think less in terms of the longstanding relationship between sport and media, and more about sport as media given the increasing interpenetration of digital media content, sport, and networked information and communications technologies.

Language

2020 ◽  
pp. 179-193
Author(s):  
Nathalie Carré
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Mobile Telephones ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Technological Limitations ◽  
Year 2000 ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Literary System

The rise of information and communications technologies (ICTs) since the year 2000 has had a transformative effect on authorship, especially in the developing world. Mobile telephones, tablets, and internet cafés have, along with the social media that thrive on them, created entirely new avenues for writers to connect with a worldwide audience, often bypassing the traditional gatekeepers of global celebrity. But ICTs, owing to technological limitations and the fact that the vast majority of them originate in the developed world, frequently present access hurdles of their own to authors writing in so-called smaller languages. What happens, for example, to authors who favour a language with a script not yet universally supported by social media platforms? As Nathalie Carré shows in this chapter, small languages may well be dependent on translations to ensure their survival in a global literary system, but this process is a two-way street.

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