Collecting, archiving, and sharing stories has been identified as possible practices to advance social justice, especially given the low cost and accessibility of digital technologies. But is it possible that the same collective force that is gained through large archives of stories masks and even betrays stories—taking away from what is meaningful and worthwhile in the acts of storytelling and listening?
Are smart cities part of the solution to the problems of communication and community within cities, poised to improving the lives of citizens? Would they work to expand modes of participation and citizenship or instead suppress communication and further distance and disintegrate communities?
Digital participatory media such as collaborative games create environments that vary in their capacity for social engagement and learning. This research looks closely at such environments to tease out whether and how the design of such environments relate to the quality of social interactions mediated by them.
