Smith, Richard, Gordon Gow

Wireless Information Society Research Network

Abstract

WISER.NET stands for Wireless Information Society Research Network. It is an international network of researchers from across disciplines working together to examine issues related to the convergence of wireless technologies and the Internet. This paper presents the organizing principles for the network and preliminary results from our examination of the mobile information society. The mobile information society is a term that first surfaced in Europe, particularly in Finland, and is used to describe an information society in which the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information is linked to the widespread availability and use of mobile computing technologies, such as notebook computers, PDAs, and mobile telephones. Working in collaboration with key agencies and industrial actors, WISER.NET researchers have begun to examine key policy and technology decisions that are shaping the co-evolution of infrastructure, design practices, and user activities that form the foundation for the mobile information society. We will describe how these decisions have played out in a variety of mobile information society-related events. For example, the role of the decision of how to deploy "location specific services" provides insight into the regulatory challenges of Internet and mobile telecommunication convergence. Similarly, the design decisions for "always on" mobile technologies at a hardware manufacturer, reveal the challenges of anticipating user needs and desires in a hybrid service and technology environment. Both examples give insight into the challenges faced by researchers, policy makers, and manufacturers and service providers within a converging technology environment. WISER.NET researchers communicate on-line and in person to discuss issues and research interests. We collaborate on funding applications. We share research findings and support one another in our pursuits. We provide advocacy in public policy and social concerns.