bio

Jim's my name and technology is my game.  I've been involved with the MobileMuse.ca project since its inception over two years ago.  In spite of my titular reference of Research Director, I'm probably more accurately described as the Chief Technology Officer in the MobileMuse.ca network.

A mathematician and computer scientist by training, I've been involved in the high tech industry for close to 30 years.  The vast majority of that time has been spent in the Ottawa area and specifically within the telecommunications domain.  I'm a serial entrepreneur and have participated or co-founded 5 startups in my career.

Good morning. I suggested that the bloggers on mobilemuse.ca introduce themselves, so I had better get started and do my own introduction.

My name is Richard Smith. I am a professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University, and I work from the downtown campus. I have been interested in 'technology and society' issues for a long time - at least 15 years or so. For the last decade I have been working on internet issues and for the last five years or so on mobile technology and society.

I have a particular interest in how mobile technology affects social inclusion - helping (or hindering) people's ability to feel a part of the social world around them. I am interested in the role of mobiles as surveillance devices, and I am keen to discover new ways of understanding "user experience" of new technology.