Rhythms of everyday life in mobile information seeking: Reflections on a photo-diary study

Abstract

This work explores embodied mobile information practices through a photo-diary and interview study with nineteen smartphone users. We qualitatively analyze 234 diary entries and one hundred descriptions of diary entries to explore how mobile devices, specifically smartphones, facilitate embodied information seeking and production, drawing insights about the use of mobile devices as nonverbal communication tools. In addition, we probe the notion of smartphones as an extension of the human body, and ways in which the affordances of these devices (e.g., portability, convenience) support and interrupt information practices. In particular, we observe that mobile devices are not only perceived as extensions of the mind and body, but are embedded in bodily rhythms and routines. This research extends empirical work in Library and Information Science (LIS), which has not focused extensively on mobile information practices in connection with the body, and suggests that the theoretical lens of embodiment may inform future work on mobile information practices.