What’s “culture” got to do with it?: A (personal) review of CATaC (Cultural Attitudes Towards Technology and Communication), 1998–2014 | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s): Charles Ess

Year of publication: 2017

Keywords: CATaC conference, Internet design, Cultural impact, Technology and culture, Cross-cultural communication, Global connectivity, Digital media, Intercultural ICT use

Methodology/Sample: _/_

Reference: Ess, C. (2017). What’s “Culture” Got to do with it?: A (Personal) Review of CATaC (Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication), 1998–2014. In G. Goggin & M. McLelland, The Routledge companion to global Internet histories (pp. 34-48). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315748962-3/culture-got-charles-ess

Abstract

This chapter describes the first cultural attitudes towards technology and communication (CATaC) conference (1998) in somewhat more detail, in order to bring forward the contributions that shaped what became defining themes and threads of the series. These began with demonstrating that “culture” makes a difference in our design, implementation, and responses to information and communication technologies (ICTs), including those constituting the Internet. With the benefit of more than 15 years of research and reflection, it is clear that “culture” indeed makes a difference vis-a-vis design, implementation, and responses to ICTs, including the Internet as the medium that connects ever greater percentages of the world’s populations. To be sure, there is considerably more work on Japan and China as well as within Arabic-speaking cultures. The CATaC conference series has benefited from far more individuals and institutions than can possibly be named individually.

> Summary

The CATaC conference series began in 1998, shaped by experiences of culture shock and ethnocentrism in Internet studies.
Overcoming ethnocentrism is a core goal of the CATaC series, highlighting its persistent challenges.
The series emphasizes the role of culture in technology design and communication, impacting responses to ICTs.
Key themes include embodiment, gender, democracy, and freedom of expression, evolving over 15 years.
The conferences foster diverse cultural identities in an interconnected world, addressing ethnocentric biases.

> Problem statement

The paper discusses ethnocentrism as a core problem in understanding culture within Internet studies.
It highlights the challenges of overcoming ethnocentrism despite advancements in understanding.
The dominance of US and European models in research frameworks is critiqued.
Limited resources in academia hinder international collaboration and scholarship.
The paper emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary work to address these issues.

> Methods used

The research methods represented in the CATaC conferences were diverse, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches.
The paper emphasizes the importance of overcoming ethnocentrism in research methods.
It highlights the need for cross-cultural analyses within Internet studies.
The author traces the development of these methods over 15 years of conference series.
The paper discusses the challenges of publishing culturally oriented research in top-ranked journals.

> Practical implications

The paper emphasizes overcoming ethnocentrism as a core goal of the CATaC series, impacting research practices in Internet studies.
It highlights the necessity of multilingual skills for effective research and dialogue in diverse cultural contexts.
The CATaC conferences encourage integrating cultural perspectives into information and computing ethics, influencing disciplinary orientations.
Ethical and political commitments are crucial in addressing the risks of colonization and imperialism in Internet studies.
The paper suggests that prevailing theories should be critically examined against diverse cultural assumptions.