IMAGINING RADIO: MENTAL MODALS OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
Policy discussions about wireless communication are usually framed in terms of spectrum, signals, and radios. Spectrum is sometimes conceptualized as a space, and sometimes as a resource; sometimes those two are combined into a spatial resource -land. There are two common mental models for wireless signals: as objects moving through space, or as sounds, particularly speech. Radios are modeled as people. The spectrum/signals/radios approach is not the only way to model spectrum; a Wireless as Internet model is emerging. Mismatches between mental models and the underlying phenomena can inspire faulty intuitions.
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- Intermedia Issue:
- Vol 35, Issue 3
- Issue Date:
- July 2007
- Theme:
- Infrastructure and Spectrum
