A new mobile phone idea worth a peek

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“Phoneblocks” is a new mobile phone project that aims at a longer life of the electronic device. The different hardware features of a mobile phone are divided into different blocks, and whenever a block breaks or needs an upgrade it can be easily replaced. This helps avoiding massive waste of electronic devices as it makes the mobile phone last longer.

This bright initiative is yet to be undertaken, and needs the support of many people to make it happen. You can watch a short video here for more information, and if you are interested you can give your support.

Dr. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol takes part in a conference in Perú and publishes a new paper

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Member of the A C M network, Dr. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol presented new works last Monday September 2nd in a conference at the IEP (Institute of Peruvian Studies) in Lima, Perú. The title of the paper is “Who throws away their cell phone when they turn 70? Who buys their first one?” (Original title: “¿Quién bota su celular al cumplir los 70? ¿Y quién compra uno por primera vez?”). This talk was part of a 2-session conference series entitled “Connected grandparents and young ones” (“Abuelos y Jóvenes conectad@s”)

For more information (in Spanish), click on the following link.

Dr. Fernández-Ardèvol is in Perú for a 2 week visit at the IEP, hosted by Dr. Roxana Barrantes, director of the institute. The goal of her visit is to continue a series of case studies, this time about low-income seniors living in Lima.

Dr. Fernádez-Ardèvol has also recently published a new paper:

Fernández-Ardèvol, M. (2013):  Deliberate missed calls: A meaningful communication practice for seniors? Mobile Media & Communication September 2013 1: 285-298, doi:10.1177/2050157913493624

To read the abstract, you can follow this link. You can also check the journal’s website here.

Call for Papers: Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism

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The Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism (SCOS) is holding a conference titled Sport, Play and Game in Utrecht in the Netherlands, from July 10-14 2014. One of the topics discussed during this conference will be silver gaming. Eugene Loos, a member of A-C-M, is part of the organizing committee of the conference. Abstracts should be submitted by December 20, 2013 and more information is available at http://www.scos.org/iframe-5/index.html .

Dr. Kim Sawchuk publishes article on RECAA and digital technologies

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Dr. Kim Sawchuk’s new article appears in a special issue on the theme of “Mediatization and cultural change” in the journal MedieKultur. The piece is titled “Tactical mediatization and activist ageing: pressures, push-backs, and the story of RECAA”, and discusses the integration of digital media technologies and practices into the Montreal-based activist group Respecting Elders: Communities Against Elder Abuse (RECAA). The article can be read here.

Call for Papers: Meaning and Culture(s): Exploring the Life Course

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The European Network in Aging Studies is organizing its 8th International Conference on Cultural Gerontology. It will be held from April 10 to 13 2014 at the National University of Ireland in Galway. The conference, titled “Meaning and Culture(s): Exploring the Life Course,” will provide a forum to present and discuss research on the process of ageing in its diverse cultural and social manifestations. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2013. More information, including the call for papers, can be found on the conference website.

Dr. Barbara Crow to Teach in Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Programme

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Dr. Barbara Crow will be teaching at the eleventh Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Programme, to be held at the University of Toronto July 8 to 19, 2013. The Summer Doctoral Programme will bring together doctoral students and leading academics in fields related to the Internet and other ICTs so as to discuss methodologies and practices in research design, among other topics. More information about the event is available here.

Dr. Line Grenier and Dr. Kim Sawchuk Presenting at the Canadian Communication Association Conference

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ACM directors Dr. Line Grenier and Dr. Kim Sawchuk will be presenting papers at the annual conference for the Canadian Communication Association (CCA), which will be held from June 5th to 7th in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Their papers will be featured as part of two panels organized on the topic of ageing at the conference. Dr. Grenier’s paper is titled “Étoile des Aînés: Memory Work Through ‘Music-ing’” and Dr. Sawchuk’s paper is titled “MemorySpace: The Mediation and Mediatisation of Personal Photographs for Public Display.” In addition, ACM research assistants Arwen Fleming, Sophie Guérin and Fannie Valois-Nadeau as well as postdoctoral fellow Dr. Giuliana Cucinelli will be presenting during these panels. More information about the conference, including the full conference program, is available on the CCA website (www.acc-cca.ca).

News from RECAA

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There are many new things going on over at Respecting Elders: Communities Against Abuse (RECAA). RECAA has recently launched a new website (www.recaa.ca) and a newsletter. The group is also presenting a theatrical event in Montreal on June 13th to celebrate its 10th anniversary and to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The event is titled We Are Old! We Are Wonderful! More information about the event is available here or in the Events section of our website.

Dr. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol completes a case study series

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Co-director of the A C M Network Dr. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol from the IN3-UOC in Barcelona has recently published two papers about the use (and non-use) patterns of mobile telephony performed by elderly people in two cities: one in Toronto, and another one in Montevideo (Uruguay). These two publications complete a case study series carried out in different contexts in the last two years; Los Angeles and Barcelona are the other cases under examination.

For the Barcelona paper, look for the following reference:

Fernández-Ardèvol, M, Arroyo L.  2012.  Mobile telephony and older people: Exploring use and rejection. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 3(1):9-24.

For a recent publication by Dr. Fernández-Ardèvol related to this topic, see the following link:

Fernández-Ardèvol, M.  2012.  Missed calls: Barcelona and Los Angeles compared. Technology & Emerging Media Track – Annual Conference of the Canadian Communication Association (Waterloo, May 30 -June 1, 2012). Watterloo, Ontario: Canadian Communication Association.