Archive for the ‘digital economy?’ Category

Chuggers go mobile

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Spread out chuggers - Walt Jabsco

Short of actual physical assault there is little more obnoxious when idling along a public thoroughfare than being chugged. Now the assailants have further automated their pseudo-worthy diabolical guilt assaults with smart phones to more efficiently process your banking details, if not instantly shackle you into a direct debit agreement.

Twice during my walk into work this week I have seen chuggers sans clipboards and kitted out with innocuous blackberry-esque handsets. Some outcomes of the pervasion of ICTs are less welcome than others. I wonder if the use of a mobile technology as the data collection mechanism has any effect on attitudes towards giving? Is it off-putting or does having a relatively expensive technology (rather than a clipboard & pen) somewhat authenticate or render greater authority for the chugger? I have no answer, but it’d be interesting to find out (and whether it is a decision calculated on more than efficiency). Either way, such activities are ethically questionable and perhaps antithetical to the admirable aims of charitable organisations.

A technological economy

Friday, January 30th, 2009

A lot has been written in this decade attempting to situate an ‘information’ or ‘digital’ economy in relation to politics and political practices. Some suggest recent technological innovations provide a transformative potential for society, others are more cautious. I have collected below some quotes that I feel help set out, or act as a primer for, some key concerns in these debates.

(more…)