I am a doctoral student at the Royal College of Art. I am extremely interested in interviewing people who live on Golden Lane Estate about smart phone use. I wish to better understand the specific community and personal benefits to this technology, as well as potential vulnerabilities.

I would like to interview people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. The interview would only take approximately half an hour. I am happy to meet people at locations within Golden Lane Estate, at a nearby cafe or to conduct the interview via phone or email. I would audio record the interviews but would not photograph people. These interviews would contribute to my PhD based around the use of visual and networked technology and surveillance in the City of London.

If you are interested or want more information please email: kevin.biderman@network.rca.ac.uk

Summary of research:
My research focuses on how visual technologies have been utilised in the City of London by various stakeholders since 1994. I want to examine the contemporary use of smart phones in order to explore how technological changes may reflect or mirror wider societal shifts. I am also interested in how surveillance might be used both by those with power, those trying to keep power to account and as an everyday activity in modern life.

Research questions for fieldwork section:

- How has the material construction of smart phones and associated platforms facilitated community and personal benefits / vulnerabilities?

- Since 1994, how have visual technologies been utilised in the City of London by various stakeholders?

- How have technological changes in visual and networked technologies mirrored wider societal shifts?    

About me:
I am a mature student, doing a funded research project at the Royal College of Art. Before this I taught at film and photography to adults at City and Islington College for many years. I live around Hackney Road but used to live very near to Golden Lanes years ago. I spent a lot of time in Fortune Park when my daughter was young and I know the area quite well. I really appreciate the very special mix of people in Golden Lane Estate and would be very interested to hear what different people have to say about my topic.