Software-sorted geographies
Abstract:
This paper explores the central role of computerised code in shaping the social and geographical politics of inequality in advanced societies. Arguing that ‘software-sorting’ techniques are now being widely applied in efforts to try and separate privileged and marginalised groups and places across a wide range of sectors and domains, the paper analyses recent research addressing three examples of software-sorting in practice. These address physical and electronic mobility systems, online Geographical Information Systems (GISs), and face-recognition Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems covering city streets. The paper finishes by identifying research and policy implications of the diffusion of software-sorted geographies within which computerised code continually orchestrates inequality through technological systems embedded within urban environments.
This paper explores the central role of computerised code in shaping the social and geographical politics of inequality in advanced societies. Arguing that ‘software-sorting’ techniques are now being widely applied in efforts to try and separate privileged and marginalised groups and places across a wide range of sectors and domains, the paper analyses recent research addressing three examples of software-sorting in practice. These address physical and electronic mobility systems, online Geographical Information Systems (GISs), and face-recognition Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems covering city streets. The paper finishes by identifying research and policy implications of the diffusion of software-sorted geographies within which computerised code continually orchestrates inequality through technological systems embedded within urban environments.
Graham, S. (2005). "Software-sorted geographies." Progress in Human Geography 29 (5):562-580.
Hypotheses that reference this signal:
Forecasts that reference this signal:
| Title | Author | Excerpt |
|---|---|---|
| Geospatial technology blurs the boundary between cyberspace and urban space to form geocomputable cities | Paul Torrens | The boundary between computing infrastructure and urban infrastructure were blurred to a fuzzy line some time ago and much has been written (and speculated) about on the ramifications of their consociation across a spectrum of topics, from sociology and public policy, to cyborgs and robotic management [1, 2, 3, 4]. Somewhere along the way to the fusion of the computational and the urban, cities became geocomputable spaces. |