From the Electrical Fairy to the Magic Box
An anthropological take on wireless broadband technology
Genevieve Bell, a highly respected anthropologist and director of user experience at Intel, gave a lecture this week at Rice University in Houston, Texas, entitled “From the Electrical Fairy to the Magic Box: An anthropological account of invisible infrastructures.”
Rice University’s News & Media Relations office has a short report:
“Bell’s talk […] showed how historic, economic, regulatory and cultural frameworks affect the way wireless technology is perceived and used. The fast-talking, Australian-born scientist weaved together dozens of stories, both from her own work and from historical accounts dating to the 19th century. […]
Throughout her talk, Bell sought to uncover the oft-overlooked religious, social and cultural dimensions that impact wireless technology.”
