Everyday dwelling with WhatsApp

O’Hara, Kenton; Massimi, Michael; Harper, Richard; Rubens, Simon; Morris, Jessica

doi:10.1145/2531602.2531679

Cited by 243 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…communication between multiple interactants in one digitally shared space. MIM platforms are also known as ‘over-the-top’ (OTT) applications, because they allow communication regardless of the network and the mobile device being used [1]. Key functions of instant messaging are alerting features such as sound or pop-ups that notify users of new messages, presence features that reveal information about the users’ current status, and additional profile information [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile instant messaging for rural community health workers: a case from Malawi

Pimmer

Mhango

Mzumara

et al. 2017

Global Health Action

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Background: Mobile instant messaging (MIM) tools, such as WhatsApp, have transformed global communication practice. In the field of global health, MIM is an increasingly used, but little understood, phenomenon. Objectives: It remains unclear how MIM can be used by rural community health workers (CHWs) and their facilitators, and what are the associated benefits and constraints. To address this gap, WhatsApp groups were implemented and researched in a rural setting in Malawi. Methods: The multi-site case study research triangulated interviews and focus groups of CHWs and facilitators with the thematic qualitative analysis of the actual conversations on WhatsApp. A survey with open questions and the quantitative analysis of WhatsApp conversations were used as supplementary triangulation sources. Results: The use of MIM was differentiated according to instrumental (e.g. mobilising health resources) and participatory purposes (e.g. the enactment of emphatic ties). The identified benefits were centred on the enhanced ease and quality of communication of a geographically distributed health workforce, and the heightened connectedness of a professionally isolated health workforce. Alongside minor technical and connectivity issues, the main challenge for the CHWs was to negotiate divergent expectations regarding the social versus the instrumental use of the space. Conclusions: Despite some challenges and constraints, the implementation of WhatsApp was received positively by the CHWs and it was found to be a useful tool to support distributed rural health work.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile instant messaging for rural community health workers: a case from Malawi

Pimmer

Mhango

Mzumara

et al. 2017

Global Health Action

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“…Users have found in WA a cheap solution for their interactive needs (DolevCohen and Barak, 2013: 59) through easy-to-use intuitive menus. It also offers options for multimedia communication and in-group interaction, exchanging images and videos as an additional phatic strategy, which function as foundations upon which fruitful interactions can be fostered or sustained (Lo and Leun, 2009: 163;O'hara et al, 2014;Cui, 2016: 21). 16 It is clear that software usability has immediate impact on one of the basic conditions of relevance: the expenditure of as little mental effort as possible in choosing interpretations.…”

Section: H Sounds Great!! So Excited To See You!! :-)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…O'Hara et al (2014) propose the term dwelling for this kind of feeling, in the sense that togetherness and intimacy are enacted through persistent WA use.…”

Section: Wa Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is why users very often send each other selfies 20 at their current location, photos of the meals they are having, of the sights they are witnessing, of the room of the hotel they are staying in, etc. Besides, WA groups are typically used for planning and organizing physical activities, for negotiating locations and schedules (O'Hara et al, 2014).…”

Section: Wa Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contextual constraints and non-propositional effects in WhatsApp communication

Yus

2017

Journal of Pragmatics

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According to relevance theory (Sperber and Wilson, 1995), information (a set of assumptions in its terminology) is relevant if it satisfies two conditions; firstly, it should generate a substantial amount of interest (positive cognitive effects in its terminology); and secondly, its processing should demand as little mental effort as possible. In my opinion, this pair of conditions should be supplemented with the notions of contextual constraint and non-intended non-propositional effect.As will be argued in this paper, this RT extension is particularly appropriate for the analysis of Internet-mediated communication, since nowadays we are witnessing a turn into what has been labeled phatic Internet, massive exchanges of messages with little informational relevance but enormous impact on users' feelings of connectivity and sociability, among others. The aim of this paper is to apply this proposal of extension to mobile instant messaging (specifically WhatsApp) and explore some of the constraints and non-propositional effects that play a role in the eventual relevance of WhatsApp interactions, which typically generate relevance from these nonpropositional effects and not from the prototypical object of pragmatic research, namely the propositional content of the messages in the shape of explicatures and/or implicatures.

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“…Instant messaging can provide cheaper communications than real-time telephone (O'Hara, Massimi, Harper, Rubens, & Morris, 2014). Fifth, it offers search capability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%