Re-thinking home for a wireless age

This thesis builds a case for thinking differently about home by exploring the experience of wireless communications technology users. Chapter one explores the theoretical homelnon-home dichotomy and argues that additional research and discussion is required to discuss how communication technology has influenced meanings of home. Chapter two examines the recent popularity of wireless communications technologies (mobile phone, laptop, and wireless Internet) and reports on survey and interview findings. The findings demonstrate that wireless communications technology is now an integrated part of daily life and has changed people's relationship to the home. Chapter three examines additional fieldwork findings with theories of mobility and the home to argue that a more flexible conception of home is needed to reflect today's domestic environment. Together, this thesis argues that a dialogue must be opened up to re-think the meaning of home in an increasingly wireless age.