Communication Design Quarterly Jan 2015 Open Access

Knowledge work, knowledge play: a heuristic approach to communication design for hybrid spaces

Brian J. McNely University of Kentucky

Abstract

Everyday spaces and places are increasingly experienced as hybrid---as a confluence of material and informatic possibility---thanks to the ubiquity of always connected mobile devices and robust sociotechnical networks. For example, the interiors of many contemporary vehicles are personal area networks that move with drivers through daily commutes, connecting them to their phone's text messages and social networks in and through the material space of their car. In such cases, communication flows strongly mediate people's experiences in, movements through, and perceptions toward spaces of work, learning, and leisure. This article explores such hybrid spaces from the perspective of communication design, offering a heuristic approach to user experience in a world where spaces are often crosshatched and multiple. This exploration focuses on the kinds of tools and practices common to knowledge work and its recent extensions into forms of knowledge play, where the means of knowledge work are coordinated and transformed for non-work pursuits. This article, then, presents a practical, persona driven perspective on the relationships between communication flows and hybrid spaces, challenging design of communication researchers and user experience professionals to rethink the everyday combinations of symbolic action, knowledge work tools and networks, and mundane locations and movements.

Journal
Communication Design Quarterly
Published
2015-01-13
DOI
10.1145/2721874.2721876
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
OA PDF Gold
Topics
modern rhetorical theory
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Willers (2025)
    Lessons from a “Scholar on Fire” for a World on Fire: A Framework to Position T…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Swarts (2016)
    Composing Networks: Writing Practices on Mobile Devices
    Written Communication

References (40) · 8 in this index

  1. 10.1145/2507065.2507081
     ↗
  2. Chipchase J. (2013 March 2). Where things live when not in use {Web log post}. Retrieved from: http://janchip…
  3. 10.1145/1297144.1297202
     ↗
  4. Cresswell T. (2004). Place: A short introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Cresswell T. (2004). Place: …
  5. 10.1145/2379057.2379068
     ↗
Show all 40 →
  1. Fulton Suri J. (2005). Thoughtless acts? Observations on intuitive design. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. F…
  2. Hart-Davidson W. (2013a). What are the work patterns of technical communication? In J. Johnson-Eilola and S. …
  3. Hart-Davidson W. (2013b). Afterword: Beyond engagement. In C. Geisler (Ed.) Designing for User Engagement on …
  4. 10.1177/002194369403100202
     ↗
  5. Johnson-Eilola J. (2005). Datacloud: Toward a new theory of online work. Cresskill NJ: Hampton Press. Johnso…
  6. Johnson-Eilola J. & Selber S. (2013). Introduction. In J. Johnson-Eilola and S. Selber (Eds.) Solving problem…
     ↗
  7. Jones (2014)
    Switching in Twitter’s Hashtagged Exchanges
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. Kraut R. E. Egido C. & Galegher J. (1990). Patterns of contact and communication in scientific research colla…
  9. Kraut R. Fish R. Root R. & Chalfonte B. (1993). Informal communication in organizations: Form function and te…
  10. Latour B. (1987). Science in action. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Latour B. (1987). Science in actio…
  11. 10.1177/026327602761899165
     ↗
  12. Massey D. (1994). Space place and gender. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Massey D. (1994). Spac…
  13. Massey D. (2005). For space. Los Angeles: Sage. Massey D. (2005). For space. Los Angeles: Sage.
  14. 10.1109/IPCC.2011.6087195
     ↗
  15. Mehlenbacher B. (2010). Instruction and technology: Designs for everyday learning. Cambridge MA: MIT Press. …
     ↗
  16. Mehlenbacher B. (2013). What is the future of technical communication? In Johndan Johnson-Eilola and Stuart S…
  17. Mol A. & Law J. (2002). Complexities: An introduction. In J. Law and A. Mol (Eds.) Complexities Social Studie…
     ↗
  18. 10.1007/s10606-004-8127-9
     ↗
  19. Nardi B. & O'Day V. (1999). Information ecologies: Using technology with heart. Cambridge: MIT Press. Nardi…
     ↗
  20. Pigg S. (2011). Embodied rhetoric in scenes of production: The case of the coffeehouse (Unpublished doctoral …
  21. Potts et al. (2011)
    Contextualizing Experiences: Tracing the Relationships Between People and Techn…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  22. 10.1145/2379057.2379095
     ↗
  23. Reich R. (1992). The work of nations: Preparing ourselves for 21st century capitalism. New York: Vintage Pres…
  24. Selfe C. (1999). Technology and literacy in the Twenty-First Century: The importance of paying attention. Car…
  25. Spinuzzi C. (2003). Tracing genres through organizations: A sociocultural approach to information design. Cam…
     ↗
  26. Spinuzzi C. (2006). What do we need to teach about knowledge work? {White Paper} Retrieved from http://www.dr…
  27. Spinuzzi (2007)
    Guest Editor's Introduction: Technical Communication in the Age of Distributed Work
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  28. Spinuzzi (2009)
    Starter Ecologies: Introduction to the Special Issue on Social Software
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  29. Spinuzzi (2012)
    Working Alone Together: Coworking as Emergent Collaborative Activity
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  30. Stolley (2009)
    Integrating Social Media Into Existing Work Environments: The Case of Delicious
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  31. Swarts (2007)
    Mobility and Composition: The Architecture of Coherence in Non-places
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  32. Swarts et al. (2009)
    Guest Editors' Introduction: New Technological Spaces
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  33. Thompson C. (2013). Smarter than you think: How technology is changing our minds for the better. New York: Pe…
  34. Tuan Y. F. (1977). Space and place: The perspective of experience. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press…
  35. 10.1145/191666.191726
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Written Communication May 2026
    Categorizing Human Identity in Writing Research: A Case for Participant Self-Identification in the Disaggregation of Data ↗
    Jennifer Burke Reifman
    modern rhetorical theory professional writing empirical research
  2. Res Rhetorica Apr 2026
    The rhetorical dimension of the justification for the absence of direct military support for Ukraine in Joe Biden’s statements ↗
    Marta Kobylska
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism editorial matter
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Mar 2026
    Canon to Code: Rhetorical Rulemaking for Generative AI Content Audits and Governance ↗
    Miriam F. Williams
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism assessment technical communication artificial intelligence
  4. Computers and Composition Mar 2026
    Wicked modes in UX: Pedagogical considerations for data détournement ↗
    Morgan Banville; Leah Heilig; Madison Jones
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy multimodality artificial intelligence
  5. Computers and Composition Mar 2026
    Shifting rhetorical agency in multimodal UX composition with AI: Sharing rhetorical authority with technologies ↗
    Nupoor Ranade; Daniel L. Hocutt
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy technical communication multimodality