The emerging notion of the ubiquitous 'home' within a technologically driven nomadic culture

This thesis is a study of the influence of current network and digital technology as an agent for redefining, transforming, and reassessing, the concept of "home". The premise of this thesis is that the evolving use of Internet as a virtual transportation medium may result in the change of comfort and distance within spatial environments forcing one's living space of working, learning, and playing to extend over an ubiquitous locale. This extension would in turn affect the traditional concept of the "home". Although the meaning of home has remained the same throughout centuries i.e. to provide shelter and food, the implications of "homeness" have changed through culture and time and these essential needs are transforming themselves into new forms within the demands of digital computing and telecommunication of the 21 st century.; Affordable technology coupled with Internet use is already altering lifestyle patterns, transcending barriers of locality-based activities and associated linear lifestyle. Globalization and transportation have influenced the concept of portability and the global nomad. Researchers must understand the possible products of these lifestyles and anticipate the ramifications of the ubiquitous presence to effectively participate in and create any innovative expression in this transformation process.; This study undertakes three parts. The first part involves the author's assessment of current trends in networked telecommunication, digital technology and wireless communication as an analysis of the prevailing influence of technology in common living environments. The second part incorporates a discussion on the definition of an individual space termed as "home"; it extrapolates the significance of "homeness" by discussing in an abstract manner each sense of home, in a physical manner via measure and distance space, and in a philosophical manner as a cultural idea and identity of place. The third part, presents discussion of the concept of home drawn from interviews with 83 individuals of diverse backgrounds experiencing their concept of home.; Using a phenomenological approach, this thesis aims to provide a specific rationale in constructing a particular model of "homeness" under the current influence of networked technology. Lifestyle choices related to one's association to "homeness" are compared with possible digital outputs in key areas such as visual, sound, and memory preferences. This thesis argues about the plausible future of space and place termed as ubiquitous home and presents possible technological scenarios as a direct result of increased influence of networked digital technology.