Mobility and Mobile ICTs

Abstract

Information revolution and information society are captions which are used to signify the rapid innovation and diffusion of ICTs, notably the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) (Castells 2001). In their wake, the world has witnessed the development of mobile ICTs to meet users’ demands for information processing and interaction anytime, anywhere (Kleinrock 1996). It does not take too long before one encounters people busily working with laptop computers in the train. We also see others organising themselves and their tasks assisted by the functionalities of smartphones and tablet computers in both socially—and organisationally-mobile settings. Thus we witness pervasive and ubiquitous computing triggered by dramatic innovations in ICTs such as Bluetooth, and 4th Generation mobile phones, and their users’ nomadic behaviours (Sorensen 2011). The phrase ‘nomadic behaviour’ depicts the depth and breadth of mobile computing which in turn speak of the digitalisation, miniaturisation, and integration of ICTs. It also speak of the unprecedented possibilities to access, manipulate and share information on the move. Thus, Kopomaa (2000), for example, has drawn attention to the fact that mobile computing is now an integral aspect of our lives at both personal and societal levels.