Emotions and Mobile Phones

In this somewhat dated article Amparo Lasen demonstrates how mobile phones are affective technologies - that is, objects which mediate the expression and exchange of feelings and emotions.

Mobility is part of the original sense of the notion of emotion as it refers to agitated motion, mental agitation or feelings of mental agitation. Emotions are those mental states called "passions" in the past. An important feature of the affects depicted by the category of passions is the idea that they entail ways of being acted upon, of being moved by other beings, objects, events, and situations. Nowadays people are moved and acted upon by their mobile phones. Mobile phone uses are the result of a shared agency. Competences and performances are distributed between people and devices. People and their mobile phones constitute a particular example of the assemblies between the human and non-human, as described by Bruno Latour. The assembly 'me and my mobile phone' is constituted in situated practices where other actants -groups, individuals, objects and spaces- are involved.

Mobile phones have become affective technologies. That is, objects which mediate the expression, display, experience and communication of feelings and emotions. Users enjoy an affective relationship with their phones and feel attached to them. This is partly due to the intrinsic affective character of human communication, and also because mobile phones are close to the body. They are an extension of the human body at the same time that they extend and augment its abilities. Emotional attachment is enacted in the personalisation of handheld devices and services. Mobile phones are not only an extension of the owner's presence, but they also allow the virtual presence of those linked to us by phone communication. Thus, they become an important element in the building and maintaining of groups and communities.

Great insight into the social factors affecting the shape of mobile devices.

Download the .pdf

Emotions and Mobile Phones

In this somewhat dated article Amparo Lasen demonstrates how mobile phones are affective technologies - that is, objects which mediate the expression and exchange of feelings and emotions.

Mobility is part of the original sense of the notion of emotion as it refers to agitated motion, mental agitation or feelings of mental agitation. Emotions are those mental states called "passions" in the past. An important feature of the affects depicted by the category of passions is the idea that they entail ways of being acted upon, of being moved by other beings, objects, events, and situations. Nowadays people are moved and acted upon by their mobile phones. Mobile phone uses are the result of a shared agency. Competences and performances are distributed between people and devices. People and their mobile phones constitute a particular example of the assemblies between the human and non-human, as described by Bruno Latour. The assembly 'me and my mobile phone' is constituted in situated practices where other actants -groups, individuals, objects and spaces- are involved. Mobile phones have become affective technologies. That is, objects which mediate the expression, display, experience and communication of feelings and emotions. Users enjoy an affective relationship with their phones and feel attached to them. This is partly due to the intrinsic affective character of human communication, and also because mobile phones are close to the body. They are an extension of the human body at the same time that they extend and augment its abilities. Emotional attachment is enacted in the personalisation of handheld devices and services. Mobile phones are not only an extension of the owner's presence, but they also allow the virtual presence of those linked to us by phone communication. Thus, they become an important element in the building and maintaining of groups and communities.

Great insight into the social factors affecting the shape of mobile devices. Download the .pdf