IMPACT OF DIGITALISATION ON THE PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC SPACE

Understanding the role Google Maps and Instagram play in the way we engage with urban environments

Public spaces are an integral part of the city, closely associated with everyday routines. Every time people commute, gather to socialise, engage in commercial or social activities, or participate in large-scale events or demonstrations, they engage with public spaces. Historically, public space has usually been associated with its function in society and discussed in relation to its built environment. Yet easy access to GPS, digital signages, real-time information, on-the-go music, online tickets, and ability to share experiences easily are increasingly shaping experiences in urban spaces. The interactions between people, space (physical environment) and technology co-produce the modern-day hybrid public space. By breaking away from traditional definitions of public space, this research aims to contribute to the larger body of literature related to spatial analysis by proposing a new methodological framework to study hybrid public spaces.

Findings from pilot Instagram study: Southbank Centre, London

30% photos of centre shown with #yellowsteps

33% photos are correctly geotagged to the centre

RICHI MOHANTY PhD Student

rm745@kent.ac.uk

Richi Mohanty is a third-year PhD student at Kent School of Architecture and Planning. Her research project, funded by the EPSRC studentship, explores the relationship between urban public spaces and people in the context of digitally mediated social interactions. She comes from an Architecture and Industrial Design background. For the last nine years, she has worked as a User Experience Design Consultant in the information technology industry. Her experience in the industry, working closely with datadriven processes, and her background in architecture prompted her to look at the meaning of urban public space.

Current Study: Instagram Images Heat Map

SUPERVISORY TEAM

Dr Ambrose Gillick

Dr Vince Miller