1. Research
Demographic transition
Living apart from family members and familiar environments is becoming more and more a global phenomenon (www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/, 2,01. 09). This phenomenon is quite common to many of us, as most of us will live in several places during our lives, possibly more than once, whether temporarily or permanently. Historically, voluntary and forced migration is one of the most reoccuring themes, which did not lose its momentum with the passing of time. On the contrary, in the twentieth century it has increasingly become serious issue which faces many problems all over the world.
In some industrialised countries, rapid urbanization plays a great role in this shift of demographic change: as hundreds of millions of young workers leave their families and hometowns for better work opportunities in cities (www.cohre.org, 15,03,09)
What is important in these findings is to explore the ramifications in what these demographic changes have on the psychological well being of the people moving away from their families and hometowns.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Changing values
One thing that can be understood from these findings is that it is often a choice for people to move away from their families and hometowns. This is especially the case among young people in developed countries (www.s1ngletown.org,15.01.09). These choices are often guided by the current day values promoted in educational opportunities, employment trends, social policies, technological innovations, media representations, and new ideas about human rights or personal entitlements (ibid).
These changed values have promoted individual rights along with less regulation of the private lives of individuals by the larger community. Diversity is valued, in living arrangements and in family forms (ibid).
On top of this, when people are asked where they would like to live at the end of their life, for some, staying with their children and family is not desired: their priority is to maintain independence, and there is a significant preference for remaining in their own homes (ibid).
This being said, the human need for attachment to other people and places is widely referenced in the psychological field (http://drvanecke.com/publications, 12.05.09). Attachment theory involves the emotional connection between people to people and people to places from cradle to grave. Psychologist Dr. van Ecke states in the paper Immigration from an Attachment Perspective, that there is the possibility for long term implications in relation to the immigration experience. These implications may include increased vulnerability to attachment trauma. A major inhibitor associated with attachment trauma for immigrants is to reinforce the immigrants need for social support, as well as, the reinforcement of a sense of belonging to both their new and old environments (ibid).
What these findings suggest in the design of a long distance communication tool is that there could be a design insight in how a tool can reinforce a sense of belonging and emotional attachment to both the place of current abode as well as the origin of a distant hometown.
One thing that can be understood from these findings is that it is often a choice for people to move away from their families and hometowns. This is especially the case among young people in developed countries (www.s1ngletown.org,15.01.09). These choices are often guided by the current day values promoted in educational opportunities, employment trends, social policies, technological innovations, media representations, and new ideas about human rights or personal entitlements (ibid).
These changed values have promoted individual rights along with less regulation of the private lives of individuals by the larger community. Diversity is valued, in living arrangements and in family forms (ibid).
On top of this, when people are asked where they would like to live at the end of their life, for some, staying with their children and family is not desired: their priority is to maintain independence, and there is a significant preference for remaining in their own homes (ibid).
This being said, the human need for attachment to other people and places is widely referenced in the psychological field (http://drvanecke.com/publications, 12.05.09). Attachment theory involves the emotional connection between people to people and people to places from cradle to grave. Psychologist Dr. van Ecke states in the paper Immigration from an Attachment Perspective, that there is the possibility for long term implications in relation to the immigration experience. These implications may include increased vulnerability to attachment trauma. A major inhibitor associated with attachment trauma for immigrants is to reinforce the immigrants need for social support, as well as, the reinforcement of a sense of belonging to both their new and old environments (ibid).
What these findings suggest in the design of a long distance communication tool is that there could be a design insight in how a tool can reinforce a sense of belonging and emotional attachment to both the place of current abode as well as the origin of a distant hometown.
International students
The issue of immigrant attachment is widely recognised among many immigrants from different nationalities and age groups (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.66). What is interesting in these findings is that there is an increased amount of research in the effects of immigration from the international student perspective (ibid).
Nowadays, well over a million young people per year go abroad to study at a foreign university. The experience of studying in a foreign country, however, leaves a powerful impression on young people that may last all their lives. For most the experience is very enriching, but for a few the experience is negative and they sometimes recall loneliness, homesickness and nostalgia (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.36).
For many people who choose to study in a different culture, it can be quite a heavy experience that propagates a nervous-feeling caused by being in a less familiar environment, away from the support network of the home culture (ibid).
When people experience or live in new environment and new culture, it seems that most of them will suffer culture shock to some extent, which is always thought of as being unpleasant and stressful (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.17).
For international students, it seems that most of them will suffer from problems such as language difficulties, financial problems, adjusting to a new educational system, homesickness, adjusting to social customs and norms, and for some students, racial discrimination (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.63).
The culture shock hypothesis or concept implies that the experience of visiting or living in a new culture is an unpleasant surprise or shock, partly because it is unexpected, and partly because it may lead to a negative evaluation of oneself (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.18)
Alexander et al. (1981) describes the plight of the international student as being isolated from the host culture and having lost social anchorage in the home culture.
To alleviate some of this pressure, many international students use long distance communication tools to maintain contact with people from their home. What is interesting in these findings is that although statistics are unclear regarding the exact ages of people using communication tools such as Skype due to animosity, the larger population of users are predicted to be from younger generations. This hypothesis is somewhat expected as the two main demographic factors that contribute to internet usage is age and education (http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/Press_Release/press_detail.html, 10.05.2009)
What this can suggest in the design process of a long distance communication device is that it could be designed around the internet and therefore assessable to many younger people living abroad.
The average distance within the UK for homesick students to travel was 364 miles on average for those who reported homesick, and 203 miles for those who reported no homesickness effects.
(Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.1
The issue of immigrant attachment is widely recognised among many immigrants from different nationalities and age groups (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.66). What is interesting in these findings is that there is an increased amount of research in the effects of immigration from the international student perspective (ibid).
Nowadays, well over a million young people per year go abroad to study at a foreign university. The experience of studying in a foreign country, however, leaves a powerful impression on young people that may last all their lives. For most the experience is very enriching, but for a few the experience is negative and they sometimes recall loneliness, homesickness and nostalgia (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.36).
For many people who choose to study in a different culture, it can be quite a heavy experience that propagates a nervous-feeling caused by being in a less familiar environment, away from the support network of the home culture (ibid).
When people experience or live in new environment and new culture, it seems that most of them will suffer culture shock to some extent, which is always thought of as being unpleasant and stressful (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.17).
For international students, it seems that most of them will suffer from problems such as language difficulties, financial problems, adjusting to a new educational system, homesickness, adjusting to social customs and norms, and for some students, racial discrimination (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.63).
The culture shock hypothesis or concept implies that the experience of visiting or living in a new culture is an unpleasant surprise or shock, partly because it is unexpected, and partly because it may lead to a negative evaluation of oneself (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.18)
Alexander et al. (1981) describes the plight of the international student as being isolated from the host culture and having lost social anchorage in the home culture.
To alleviate some of this pressure, many international students use long distance communication tools to maintain contact with people from their home. What is interesting in these findings is that although statistics are unclear regarding the exact ages of people using communication tools such as Skype due to animosity, the larger population of users are predicted to be from younger generations. This hypothesis is somewhat expected as the two main demographic factors that contribute to internet usage is age and education (http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/Press_Release/press_detail.html, 10.05.2009)
What this can suggest in the design process of a long distance communication device is that it could be designed around the internet and therefore assessable to many younger people living abroad.
The average distance within the UK for homesick students to travel was 364 miles on average for those who reported homesick, and 203 miles for those who reported no homesickness effects.
(Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.1
Home, familiar place
Another important finding in relation to international students studying abroad is that homesickness and nostalgia is near the top of the list of their feelings of complaints from being away from their homes (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.43).
Nostalgia is defined by the Concise Oxford Dictionary (2005) as; a sentimental yearning or longing for bygone days. And characterized by ruminative thoughts about the home and the desire to go back to the familiar environment. Scientifically, the condition was first described by Hofer (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.35) in Basel in 1685. Meanwhile, religiously nostalgia has been historically referenced in the Bible at Psalm 13 7: "By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yeah wept when we remembered Zion" (ibid).
On the other hand, Homesickness, is defined by the Oxford Advanced Learner`s Dictionary (2007) as; the sadness that arrives from being away from home. Where the notion of home is not simply a shelter but the place that you were born and grew, where your memories are stored emotionally, there are people who you spend your life together and are replaceable or exchangeable (Kron 2007, p.55).
Psychologists Dijkstra and Hendrix (1983) define homesickness as; a human state of being, characterized by a depressed mood, physical complains and a ruminative thinking about the familiar environment and/or familiar people.
One factor that contributes to the amount of homesickness experienced by people is the amount of geographical distance from home they have travelled (Fisher 1990, p.56) The greater the distance involved, the worse the homesickness effects were found to be (ibid).
Other physical and psychological ramifications of homesickness and nostalgia include a complex reaction with characteristic accompanying emotional, somatic, and behavioral elements and cognitions which show obsessive thoughts, rumination, idealization, stomach troubles, lack of appetite, and sleeplessness (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.105).
The idea of nostalgic feelings can prove to be a design opportunity as current means of long distant communication devices do not address this emotional connection to distant people and places. This new design could also address the geographical distance between people and their old homes in an aim to psychologically create a sense of linkage between the two.
Another important finding in relation to international students studying abroad is that homesickness and nostalgia is near the top of the list of their feelings of complaints from being away from their homes (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.43).
Nostalgia is defined by the Concise Oxford Dictionary (2005) as; a sentimental yearning or longing for bygone days. And characterized by ruminative thoughts about the home and the desire to go back to the familiar environment. Scientifically, the condition was first described by Hofer (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.35) in Basel in 1685. Meanwhile, religiously nostalgia has been historically referenced in the Bible at Psalm 13 7: "By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yeah wept when we remembered Zion" (ibid).
On the other hand, Homesickness, is defined by the Oxford Advanced Learner`s Dictionary (2007) as; the sadness that arrives from being away from home. Where the notion of home is not simply a shelter but the place that you were born and grew, where your memories are stored emotionally, there are people who you spend your life together and are replaceable or exchangeable (Kron 2007, p.55).
Psychologists Dijkstra and Hendrix (1983) define homesickness as; a human state of being, characterized by a depressed mood, physical complains and a ruminative thinking about the familiar environment and/or familiar people.
One factor that contributes to the amount of homesickness experienced by people is the amount of geographical distance from home they have travelled (Fisher 1990, p.56) The greater the distance involved, the worse the homesickness effects were found to be (ibid).
Other physical and psychological ramifications of homesickness and nostalgia include a complex reaction with characteristic accompanying emotional, somatic, and behavioral elements and cognitions which show obsessive thoughts, rumination, idealization, stomach troubles, lack of appetite, and sleeplessness (Tilburg & Vingerhoets, 2005, p.105).
The idea of nostalgic feelings can prove to be a design opportunity as current means of long distant communication devices do not address this emotional connection to distant people and places. This new design could also address the geographical distance between people and their old homes in an aim to psychologically create a sense of linkage between the two.
Transition of Long distance communication
What kind of communication tools are being used in long distance communication for people who live apart?
In the last 50 years there has been numerous ways in which people have changed how they communicate over greater distances ; the Internet is most certainly one of them.
Traditionally, face-to-face interaction in the local community was the basis for communication. Yet, today face-to-face meetings are no longer the primary way to communicate between people as one can use a landline telephone or any number of the computer mediated tools such as email, MSN, website phone and Skype.
In recent years, the world has seen an explosion in the growth of information and communication technologies, and particularly mobile communications. Where the mobile became the dominant technology for voice communication (www.thehistoryof.net/history-of-long-distance.html, 14, 12, 08).
Indeed, the mobile phone has moved beyond being a mere technological object to become a key "social object" present in every aspect of our daily lives. Informal communication between friends and family is crucial to personal relationships. We are enthusiastic about e-mail and the mobile phone with its benefits in long distance contact with our relatives. Another common medium today is videoconferencing (commonly referred to as Skype) is also used between people separated geographically. What this suggests is that tools can be designed to provide greater emotional support than phone and e-mail for people staying away from their families
What kind of communication tools are being used in long distance communication for people who live apart?
In the last 50 years there has been numerous ways in which people have changed how they communicate over greater distances ; the Internet is most certainly one of them.
Traditionally, face-to-face interaction in the local community was the basis for communication. Yet, today face-to-face meetings are no longer the primary way to communicate between people as one can use a landline telephone or any number of the computer mediated tools such as email, MSN, website phone and Skype.
In recent years, the world has seen an explosion in the growth of information and communication technologies, and particularly mobile communications. Where the mobile became the dominant technology for voice communication (www.thehistoryof.net/history-of-long-distance.html, 14, 12, 08).
Indeed, the mobile phone has moved beyond being a mere technological object to become a key "social object" present in every aspect of our daily lives. Informal communication between friends and family is crucial to personal relationships. We are enthusiastic about e-mail and the mobile phone with its benefits in long distance contact with our relatives. Another common medium today is videoconferencing (commonly referred to as Skype) is also used between people separated geographically. What this suggests is that tools can be designed to provide greater emotional support than phone and e-mail for people staying away from their families
A missing sense of communication tools
In an inspiring conversation regarding long distance communication with a Korean student studying in The Netherlands. This student recounted a conversation that she had with her father over phone on the day of Korean new years. In the conversation her father asked her to bow from the Netherlands towards her parents located in Korea (it is a tradition of new year’s ritual in Korea).
What was surprising and also inspiring is that this Korean student actually did not know the direction of her home in Korea from the Netherlands. After this conversation, I asked several people who live away from their country (each of them were from a different country in Europe or Asia). A common finding was that most students could not indicate which direction their home or country was located. What was even more interesting was that when I indicated which direction their country was located in relation to the Netherlands, for all the students it brought a positive emotional affect.
This latter finding made me question the emotional capabilities of the technology of communication tools such as the phone and Skype. You can experience voice (sound) and even face to face interaction (sight) through a computer screen. However, there is no experience in recognising how far (distance) or in what cardinal direction you are from the person/people you are talking to.
An important design insight that is inspired from these findings is that current long distance communication tools are missing some experiential qualities such as direction and distance that can also bring an emotional affect to people living away from their family and hometown. What this can also suggest is that if a person requires a sentimental reassurance that they are emotionally connected to a desired place or person then a long distance communication tool can facilitate this experience without the need for direct communication between people to people.
In an inspiring conversation regarding long distance communication with a Korean student studying in The Netherlands. This student recounted a conversation that she had with her father over phone on the day of Korean new years. In the conversation her father asked her to bow from the Netherlands towards her parents located in Korea (it is a tradition of new year’s ritual in Korea).
What was surprising and also inspiring is that this Korean student actually did not know the direction of her home in Korea from the Netherlands. After this conversation, I asked several people who live away from their country (each of them were from a different country in Europe or Asia). A common finding was that most students could not indicate which direction their home or country was located. What was even more interesting was that when I indicated which direction their country was located in relation to the Netherlands, for all the students it brought a positive emotional affect.
This latter finding made me question the emotional capabilities of the technology of communication tools such as the phone and Skype. You can experience voice (sound) and even face to face interaction (sight) through a computer screen. However, there is no experience in recognising how far (distance) or in what cardinal direction you are from the person/people you are talking to.
An important design insight that is inspired from these findings is that current long distance communication tools are missing some experiential qualities such as direction and distance that can also bring an emotional affect to people living away from their family and hometown. What this can also suggest is that if a person requires a sentimental reassurance that they are emotionally connected to a desired place or person then a long distance communication tool can facilitate this experience without the need for direct communication between people to people.
2. Design inspirations
Cultural ritual in terms of direction
Another interesting design insight can be related to the religious ritual of praying. Like the social custom of bowing the cultural ritual of praying, (i.e. the Muslim tradition) also relates to a specific directional gesture (www.whyislam.org, 05.05.09).
The Muslim prayer ritual, which is over 1400 years old, is repeated five times a day toward Mecca by hundreds of millions of people all round the world. Carrying it out is not only highly spiritual, but connects each Muslim to all others around the world.(ibid)
When it is time to pray, Muslims need to be located in the direction of Mecca. In the case of being away from a Mosque in a new location, Muslims always carry on them a Mecca direction telling compass that is called qibla compass (sometimes also called qibla indicator). This compass helps such Muslims who are not available to visit Mecca to know the direction of Mecca at prayer times (ibid)
The concept of the Mecca direction telling compass is an interesting precedent for the design task at hand. As a contemporary form the Mecca compass could be translated into a long distance communication tool that indicates the direction of a desired location to feel a sense of connection between a place and a person living away.
Cultural ritual in terms of direction
Another interesting design insight can be related to the religious ritual of praying. Like the social custom of bowing the cultural ritual of praying, (i.e. the Muslim tradition) also relates to a specific directional gesture (www.whyislam.org, 05.05.09).
The Muslim prayer ritual, which is over 1400 years old, is repeated five times a day toward Mecca by hundreds of millions of people all round the world. Carrying it out is not only highly spiritual, but connects each Muslim to all others around the world.(ibid)
When it is time to pray, Muslims need to be located in the direction of Mecca. In the case of being away from a Mosque in a new location, Muslims always carry on them a Mecca direction telling compass that is called qibla compass (sometimes also called qibla indicator). This compass helps such Muslims who are not available to visit Mecca to know the direction of Mecca at prayer times (ibid)
The concept of the Mecca direction telling compass is an interesting precedent for the design task at hand. As a contemporary form the Mecca compass could be translated into a long distance communication tool that indicates the direction of a desired location to feel a sense of connection between a place and a person living away.
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