Space of flows
Encyclopedia
The Space of flows is a high-level cultural abstraction of space
and time
, and their dynamic interactions with digital age society. The concept was created by the sociologist and cybernetic culture theoretician Manuel Castells
to "reconceptualize new forms of spatial arrangements under the new technological paradigm"; a new type of space that allows distant synchronous, real-time interaction. (Castells, p. 146) The space of flows first was mentioned in The Informational City: Information Technology, Economic Restructuring, and the Urban Regional Process (1989).
, because space is "the material support of time-sharing social practices", thus the space of flows is "the material organization of time-sharing social practices that work through flows". (Castells, p. 147)
In 2001, Prof. Castells wrote: “the space of flows . . . links up distant locales around shared functions and meanings on the basis of electronic circuits and fast transportation corridors, while isolating and subduing the logic of experience embodied in the space of places”. (“Informationalism and the Network Society” in The Hacker Ethic and the Spirit of the Information Age (2001), by Pekka Himanen, New York, Random House pp. 155–78)
is the physical support of the way people live in time
. Real world time, the space-and-time to which people are accustomed, is the “space of places”, which is unlike the “space of flows” because it lacks the three elements of (i) a proper flow medium, (ii) the proper items composing the flow traversing through it, and (iii) the organisational nodes through which these flows circulate (Stadler, p. 3). The space of flows concept comprehends human action and interaction occurring dynamically and at a distance — effected via telecommunications technology containing continuous flows of time-sensitive communications, and the nodes of global computer
systems. These informational flows connect people to a continuous, real-time cybernetic
community that differs from the global village
because the groups’ positions in time become more important than their places.
Stalder, Felix. The Status of Objects in the Space of Flows, Diss. University of Toronto (2003). 13 February 2006.
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
and time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
, and their dynamic interactions with digital age society. The concept was created by the sociologist and cybernetic culture theoretician Manuel Castells
Manuel Castells
Manuel Castells is a sociologist especially associated with information society and communication research....
to "reconceptualize new forms of spatial arrangements under the new technological paradigm"; a new type of space that allows distant synchronous, real-time interaction. (Castells, p. 146) The space of flows first was mentioned in The Informational City: Information Technology, Economic Restructuring, and the Urban Regional Process (1989).
Theoretic
Traditionally, the concept of space is considered a passive entity, while time is considered a separate and active entity. Space should not be disconnected from time, because space is a dynamic entity related to time. Castells rejected the contention that space will disappear upon the creation of the global cityGlobal city
A global city is a city that is deemed to be an important node in the global economic system...
, because space is "the material support of time-sharing social practices", thus the space of flows is "the material organization of time-sharing social practices that work through flows". (Castells, p. 147)
In 2001, Prof. Castells wrote: “the space of flows . . . links up distant locales around shared functions and meanings on the basis of electronic circuits and fast transportation corridors, while isolating and subduing the logic of experience embodied in the space of places”. (“Informationalism and the Network Society” in The Hacker Ethic and the Spirit of the Information Age (2001), by Pekka Himanen, New York, Random House pp. 155–78)
Practical
SpaceSpace
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
is the physical support of the way people live in time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
. Real world time, the space-and-time to which people are accustomed, is the “space of places”, which is unlike the “space of flows” because it lacks the three elements of (i) a proper flow medium, (ii) the proper items composing the flow traversing through it, and (iii) the organisational nodes through which these flows circulate (Stadler, p. 3). The space of flows concept comprehends human action and interaction occurring dynamically and at a distance — effected via telecommunications technology containing continuous flows of time-sensitive communications, and the nodes of global computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
systems. These informational flows connect people to a continuous, real-time cybernetic
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
community that differs from the global village
Global village
Global village may refer to:*Global village , a term commonly used to describe the societal and cultural effects of telecommunications.*Global Village , cultural, entertainment and shopping destination located at Dubailand in Dubai...
because the groups’ positions in time become more important than their places.
Sources
Castells, Manuel. "An Introduction to the Information Age" in The Information Society Reader, Frank Webster, Raimo Blom, Erkki Karvonen, Harri Melin, Kaarle Nordenstreng, and Ensio Puoskari, editors. London and New York: Routledge, 2004. pp 138–49.Stalder, Felix. The Status of Objects in the Space of Flows, Diss. University of Toronto (2003). 13 February 2006