SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

CMNS 486-4

(Special Topics in Communication)
WALKING, TALKING, TEXTING, SURFING:
ADVENT OF THE MOBILE INFORMATION SOCIETY

Without a doubt the wireless web has been an over-hyped, underperforming experience for most mobile phone users. The story is just beginning, however, and the vision of “anytime, anywhere” access to the Internet from a mobile device continues to drive global developments in technology, services, and social policy. But where did such a vision come from? How will it work? What does it hold in store for living, working, and playing? Are we indeed on the brink of becoming a mobile information society? If so, how what implications does it have for telecom regulation, social policy, and cultural practice?
This course is a primer for understanding contemporary developments in wireless telecommunications. We will also consider various perspectives on what a mobile information society might be, what is motivating its development, and what meanings it is coming to have for a variety of stakeholders. Such understanding is a pre-requisite to assessing current events and proactively influencing the design of things to come. The course is designed to accommodate students with little technical experience in this field but who have an interest in the social dimensions of mobile telephones and mobile data systems.
The course will begin with a gentle introduction to wireless terms and concepts then continue with an overview of recent developments in mobile telecommunications, including the transition from first generation through to third generation (3G) technology and services in Canada and abroad. We will then turn to examine various social and cultural dimensions of mobile telecommunications, looking at a variety of studies drawn from an international context.

Required Texts:

Gralla, Preston (2001). How Wireless Works.
Katz, J.E. and Aakhus, M. (2002). Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance. Cambridge University Press.

Recommended:

Dornan, A. (2002). The Essential Guide to Wireless Communication Applications. Prentice Hall.
Green, N. and Harper, R. (2001). Wireless World: Social and Interactional Aspects of the Mobile Age. Springer-Verlag.

Course Requirements:

Diary 30%
Mid-term Exam 20%
Presentation 15%
Final Project 35%

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practicees with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy T10.02 with respect to “Intellectual Honesty”, and “Academic Discipline” (see the current Calendar, General Regulations Section).