Jaeckle, Luc

The use of the Internet and the socio-cognitive construction of time

Abstract

We propose a theoretical contribution dealing with the socio-cognitive construction of temporalities in the use of the Internet as a synchronous and asynchronous media device.

The information technology society raises acutely the problem of knowing what temporal lines enable individuals and groups to handle the juxtaposition and the superimposition of places and media whose temporal features differ.

Jacques Perriault recently put forward the notion of a temporal micro universe as a space regulated by a clock in which individuals build strategies to manage time.

Three topics will be examined in view of exploring the fruitfulness of this model regarding the use of the Internet by groups and individuals :

1/ Construction of peculiar time and rhythms

The situated observations we made showed that media devices have their own rhythms, measured by the level of interactions they produce and therefore their own temporal micro-universe with specific temporal features.

3/ The role of the moderators

Specific temporal information goes through human mediators who act as regulators and who metaphorically play the role of a clock.

2/ Human skills

Hybridizing temporal micro universes is not neutral and depend on the participants skills and strategies to manage time.

The devices has to enable the participants to commute and to behave differently according to the skills required by each layer of the device and to their polychronic ability to do several things at once as well to their ability to anticipate events.