Mobile & Locative Media

Here is a look at both Mobile and Locative media...

Mobile Media

Mobile media is a fairly new term that is used to describe media that we are able to access on the go. This can be done in a number of ways, from simply by listening to music on an MP3 player to reading an online magazine via an application on one of many digital tablets. The word tablet is particularly relevant if you think of the origins of “Mobile Media”. Paul Levinson describes these origins in his book ‘Cellphone’, “first time someone thought to write on a tablet that could be lifted and hauled – rather than on a cave wall, a cliff face, a monument that usually was stuck in place, more or less forever.” (2004)

Paul Levinson 2004 Cellphone Palgrave Macmillan

Locative Media

Locative Media is a specific type of mobile media where your physical location is relevant. In his paper 'Moving Circles:mobile media and playful identities,' Michiel de Lange describes examples of how locative media technologies are used.

(i) for navigation and orientation in way finding; (ii) to measure and visualize what is otherwise not visible; (iii) to annotate physical locations with digital information; (iv) to organize social interactions; (v) for pervasive games. In addition, I argue that play not only occurs in pervasive games but informs the other categories as well. Furthermore, in all categories locative media induce us to reflect on ourselves in spatial terms. (De Lange, 2010: 145) 

24 Hour Experiment

I have kept a log of my usage of mobile media over the last 24 hours; I have had a smart phone for over a year now and always thought that I was not using it to its full potential. I also thought that upon starting this experiment I would discover how little I utilise mobile media.

Here is my diary of usage...

My day started with my phone waking me up with its alarm, pretty sure an alarm clock isn’t classed as media. My first real experience of mobile media was when I used the bathroom facilities, as I currently am reading “Spook Country” on my Kindle, which I had left in the bathroom. 

I spent most of the day using my computer for various things, being not very mobile at all. But I did go shopping just after lunch using my iPod in the car on the way. I was very un-modern in my use of notepaper for my shopping list rather than the task list function of my phone. I did however check my E-mail from the shop as a habit while queuing at the checkout. 

I am not a big App user on my phone but I do use Maps when needed, especially to avoid traffic, which I did on my way to a quiz that I run in the evening. I also like to be connected while away for a few hours and therefore checked both my E-mail and Facebook on Apps on my phone from the pub. 

Before heading home from the pub I did need to arrange to meet a friend for a drink later on in the week, for this I used my Google Calendar, which does control my entire life.

Not a huge day of mobility and yet I was amazed as I took notes at how much I was using both mobile and locative media in everyday life.

Timeline of Mobile Media Technologies

The Tablet (Ages Ago)

As described by Levinson as the earliest form of Mobile Media

Books (1440) - Kindle (Present)

Predating the Kindle by a few hundred years, the advent of the printing press revolutionised our ability to read on the go. The more recent version begins a whole new revelation of being able to carry a library in your pocket.

Museum Audio Tours (1950s)

I was amazed to hear this has been around for so long.

“Stedelijk audio guide was developed by the Dutch electronics company, Philips, and is probably best described as a closed-circuit short wave radio broadcasting system.  Essentially, the audio output of an analogue playback tape recorder served as the broadcast station, and transmission was via a loop aerial.  The audio would be broadcast through the aerial and picked up by listeners/visitors through a portable radio receiver with headphones, when inside the loop.” (Tallon, L., 2009)

Walkman (1970s - Today)

They began with tapes but have developed over the years into MP3 players. Letting you escape into your own world of music. Closing out all external noise.

TV Wristwatch (1980s)

Who wouldn't want one of these back then...Truly Portable Television.

Mobile Gaming, Gameboy (1990s)

Early Mobile Gaming was very 2 dimensional and extremely monochromical. Over the years however is has been able to develop. More recently the PSP was very colourful and included Wifi for internet connectivity.

Mobile Phones

Development of the Mobile Phone

Mobile phones have developed over the years from the 'bricks' of the 80s to the smart phones of today...

Smart Phones, Digital Tablets

The latest generation of mobile media devices, able to act as all of the above examples.

 Finally on here are five examples of Mobile and Locative Media artefacts.

1. Wikituede

Voted “Best Augmented Reality Browser in 2010”

“Wikitude World Browser is a fun, innovative and informative Augmented Reality ( AR ) platform allowing you to discover what’s around you in a completely new way. By using the camera, simply hold up your Smartphone and explore your surroundings. Wikitude will overlay the camera’s display and the objects you look at with additional interactive content and information – really cool!”

A perfect example of a Locative Media artefact, Wikitude is a ‘World Browser’.

The Wikitude World Browser locates you via GPS and scans your surroundings for  geo-referenced content using the camera and the device’s sensors. The objects’ information is displayed in the cam right where the real object is located.

2. Layar Reality Browser.

Another example of Augmented Reality, the Layar Reality Browser adds layers of information over your camera’s view. Layar will have similar information based layers like Wikitude but will also allow consumer added layers, as well as fun games layers.

“With Layar Vision, these digital experiences can be launched from visual triggers, like magazines, posters and newspapers. Layar Vision enables the creation of layers and applications that recognize real world objects and display digital experiences on top of them. This new functionality lets layers become truly immersive as seemingly ordinary objects come alive with interactivity.”

3. American Museum of Natural History Explorer

Combining elements of both mobile and Locative media technologies the explorer is a repository of knowledge that can be accessed anywhere, but also works as a guide while touring aroung the natural History Museum.

4. Droid Comic Viewer

Following on from the Kindle, what if you want to read your entire comic collection on the go???

The answer is the Droid Comic Viewer! A typical example of pure Mobile Media.

...allowing you to read comics directly from your Android mobile phone.

5. Sky Go!

Another example of pure Mobile Media is Sky Go, allowing Sky Sports customers the ability to watch all their channels on their laptops, tablets or even their mobile phones.

Introduction

Hey, 

My name is Karl Varga and I am studying Screen Culture and Media Practices at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. I will use this blog for many things. I will show work on here that I am working on or have completed. I will also use it for general musings and critical looks at the world and media in particular.