E-Book Overview
We are on the verge of what many are calling the second information revolution, based on ubiquitous access to both computing and information. Handheld communication devices will become portable and even wearable remote control devices for both the social and physical worlds. At the same time, access to information will likely flourish, with an explosion in the volumes of data collected and distributed by these new devicesvolumes of information about people delivered to more and more people, in new ways. The technologies of instant access have potential to transform dramatically our lives, cities, societies and economies much like the railroad, telephone, automobile and Internet changed our world in the previous ages. This book contains chapters by leading international experts who discuss issues surrounding the impact of instant access on cities, daily lives, transportation, privacy, social and economic networks, community and education.
E-Book Content
Societies and Cities in the Age of Instant Access
The GeoJournal Library Volume 88 Managing Editor: Max Barlow, Toronto, Canada
Founding Series Editor: Wolf Tietze, Helmstedt, Germany
Editorial Board:
Paul Claval, France Yehuda Gradus, Israel Sam Ock Park, South Korea Herman van der Wusten, The Netherlands
The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume.
Societies and Cities in the Age of Instant Access
Edited by
Harvey J. Miller University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN-10 ISBN-13 ISBN-10 ISBN-13
1-4020-5426-2 (HB) 978-1-4020-5426-6 (HB) 1-4020-5427-0 (e-book) 978-1-4020-5427-3 (e-book)
Published by Springer, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. www.springer.com
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved © 2007 Springer No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.
Table of Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harvey J. Miller
xiii
Introduction 1.
Societies and cities in the age of instant access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harvey J. Miller 1.1. 1.2. 1.3. 1.4. 1.5. 1.6.
Introduction ............................................................................. What is accessibility?.............................................................. The technologies of instant access ......................................... Perspectives ............................................................................. Overview of the book ............................................................. Conclusion............................................................................... References ...............................................................................
3 3 4 5 10 20 26 26
Cities and the Built Environment 2.
3.
The new middle landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Cavanaugh
31
2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 2.4. 2.5.
Introduction ............................................................................. Towards critical expanse......................................................... The (new) middle landscape .................