Research, Development and Creativity in Ubiquitous Technologies in University: CIDUS Contribution

Background

Before focusing on the main objective of this report (which is to contribute to a better understanding of innovative experiences on the CIDUS Mobile Content Evolution), this will start with a look at a quotation from Vladímir Ilich Uliánov—more commonly known as “Lenin”—, who pointed out that it is sometimes necessary to take one step back in order to take two steps forward. However, it might be necessary to take two steps back —as long as three decades ago— in order to achieve the current scope of ubiquity technologies.

First step: A controversial paradox was raised by Furio Colombo (1974) about media influence more than three decades ago. According to the Italian author, politically mature citizens want to decide for themselves between an actively interact with the social reality, or to maintain a permanent link —Plug-In & Stay-Tune— with the various levels of media information. If it is true that the main goal in a media democracy seeks to have informed citizens making informed choices, the hidden face of this edifying goal is the isolation of people: social struggle and media consumption spaces are incompatible, due to the very characteristics of electronic media.

However, as Rheingold (2004) predicted, changes in ubiquity technologies were not accompanied by structural political changes, but were exploited by social protest movements. In fact, right now, the obsolescence of Colombo's paradox was reflected in technological deployment in the Puerta del Sol Square during its peaceful occupancy by 15-M “indignados”: while thousands of people stayed in Puerta del Sol to avoid the square carried out by the police, one of the key aspects in “militant mobile technology” is keeping global audiences informed —in real time, wherever they are in the world—while the Spanish movement continue their political struggle on the front lines: thus, social struggle and media consumption spaces concurred now in (real) time and (virtual) space, thanks to the advanced ubiquity technologies.

More recently, it was possible to find another similar example in “Podemos” last electoral experience. In fact, this political group —which has become the country's third political force— brings together voters' widespread dissatisfaction with austerity measures. After unexpected results of the European elections, the Spanish party led by Pablo Iglesias prepares a specific programme for the 2015 municipal elections in agreement with all of his voters: Appgree, a mobile application, allows a choice between 16,000 proposals for Community action.