Bittman, Michael; Brown, Judith E; Wajcman, Judy

Author(s)

Bittman, Michael

Brown, Judith E

Wajcman, Judy

Publication Date

2009

Abstract

There can be little doubt that the cell phone is one of the most rapidly diffused devices in the history of technological innovation. Worldwide there are now over 1.7 billion cell phone accounts, 600 million more cell phones services than fixed lines (Castells et al. 2007). Many contemporary social scientists have seen the social effects of diffusion of portable information and communication technologies (ICTs) as signaling a historical watershed. For example, Virilio (2000) has asserted that ICTs, including the cell phone have transformed proximity, so that it is now based on time rather than place. The capacity of cell phones to operate regardless of location gives rise to new patterns of continuous mediated interactions (Agar 2003; Katz and Aakhus 2002; Licoppe and Smoreda 2006). While Nicola Green (2002) argues that mobile technologies afford novel opportunities for intensifying strong ties, others presume these technologies encourage work problems to 'spillover' and colonize the social spaces and times once reserved for family life (Fligstein and Sharone 2002; Chesley 2005; Duxbury et al. 2006). ... This paper sets out to examine three propositions about cell phones and time pressure. The first proposition is that the cell phone has been instrumental in accelerating the pace of life. Concretely, the analysis presented here tests the hypotheses that: 1. Frequent cell phone use will be associated with a heightened sense of time pressure (H1). 2. The cell phone as a 'work extension technology' (tested by examining whether cell phone use, out of business hours, is predominantly or substantially connected with work tasks) (H2). 3. Cell phones contribute to the intensification of work effort (tested by examining whether greater cell phone for work increases people's experience of time pressure) (H3).

Citation

Social Indicators Research, 93(1), p. 229-233

ISSN

1573-0921

0303-8300

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/6760

Publisher

Springer Netherlands

Title

The Cell Phone, Constant Connection and Time Scarcity in Australia

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Bittman, Michael Brown, Judith E Wajcman, Judy
Publication Date	2009
Abstract	There can be little doubt that the cell phone is one of the most rapidly diffused devices in the history of technological innovation. Worldwide there are now over 1.7 billion cell phone accounts, 600 million more cell phones services than fixed lines (Castells et al. 2007). Many contemporary social scientists have seen the social effects of diffusion of portable information and communication technologies (ICTs) as signaling a historical watershed. For example, Virilio (2000) has asserted that ICTs, including the cell phone have transformed proximity, so that it is now based on time rather than place. The capacity of cell phones to operate regardless of location gives rise to new patterns of continuous mediated interactions (Agar 2003; Katz and Aakhus 2002; Licoppe and Smoreda 2006). While Nicola Green (2002) argues that mobile technologies afford novel opportunities for intensifying strong ties, others presume these technologies encourage work problems to 'spillover' and colonize the social spaces and times once reserved for family life (Fligstein and Sharone 2002; Chesley 2005; Duxbury et al. 2006). ... This paper sets out to examine three propositions about cell phones and time pressure. The first proposition is that the cell phone has been instrumental in accelerating the pace of life. Concretely, the analysis presented here tests the hypotheses that: 1. Frequent cell phone use will be associated with a heightened sense of time pressure (H1). 2. The cell phone as a 'work extension technology' (tested by examining whether cell phone use, out of business hours, is predominantly or substantially connected with work tasks) (H2). 3. Cell phones contribute to the intensification of work effort (tested by examining whether greater cell phone for work increases people's experience of time pressure) (H3).
Citation	Social Indicators Research, 93(1), p. 229-233
ISSN	1573-0921 0303-8300
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/6760
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Title	The Cell Phone, Constant Connection and Time Scarcity in Australia
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

The Cell Phone, Constant Connection and Time Scarcity in Australia

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