Wiley-Blackwell Net Locality: Why Location Matters in a Networked World

The first book to provide an introduction to the new theory of Net Locality and the profound effect on individuals and societies when everything is located or locatable. Describes net locality as an emerging form of location awareness central to all aspects of digital media, from mobile phones, to Google Maps, to location-based social networks and games, such as Foursquare and facebook.Warns of the threats these technologies, such as data surveillance, present to our sense of privacy, while also outlining the opportunities for pro-social developments.Provides a theory of the web in the context of the history of emerging technologies, from GeoCities to GPS, Wi-Fi, Wiki Me, and Google Android. Review "In this regard, the present book is undoubtedly a fine posthumous support of the work of this visionary Thinker." (Regional Studies, 1 November 2011) "Recommended. All levels/libraries." (Choice, 1 October 2011) "The authors are clearly enthusiastic about this technology and its possibilities, yet they do address privacy concerns. Particularly interesting is their discussion of the ways in which net locality impacts political engagement and local government, and how location awareness is effecting other cultures." (Publishers Weekly , 30 May 2011) Review “Net Locality is a superb and thought-provoking guide to the merging of communication, information and location.” Steve Jones, University of Illinois at Chicago "If anyone still believes in the death of distance, now there is a definite response. Gordon and de Souza e Silva not only confirm that place continues to matter, they also dismantle the old physical/virtual dichotomy and clarify the relationship between bits and atoms.”Marcus Foth, Queensland University of Technology “Services such as Facebook Places, Foursquare, Glympse, Loopt, WikiMe, GeoGraffiti, and Google Maps and dozens of others mean that we can attach information to locations, discover new dimensions to the world around us and engage in social networking via mobile devices, recalibrating our privacy as we go along.  Gordon and de Souza e Silva’s work helps us to understand how location-based services will change our daily lives."Rich Ling, IT University of Copenhagen From the Inside Flap The web is all around us. The use of mobile phones and location-aware technologies and the ability for people to browse information from wherever they may be, means that physical location has become an important factor in how data is categorized and accessed. This book provides an introduction to the new theory of Net Locality, an emerging form of location awareness, a concept becoming central to cultural production and everyday life. Net locality is crucial to all aspects of digital media, from mobile phones to online maps to location-based social networks and games. This book describes what happens to individuals and societies when virtually everything is located or locatable and what they can do with this awareness, from organizing impromptu political protests to finding nearby friends and resources. It covers the dangers and affordances that these technologies present, from challenging traditional notions of privacy to the reimagining of urban public space. From the Back Cover The web is all around us. The use of mobile phones and location-aware technologies and the ability for people to browse information from wherever they may be, means that physical location has become an important factor in how data is categorized and accessed. This book provides an introduction to the new theory of Net Locality, an emerging form of location awareness, a concept becoming central to cultural production and everyday life. Net locality is crucial to all aspects of digital media, from mobile phones to online maps to location-based social networks and games. This book describes what happens to individuals and societies when virtually everything is located or locatable and what