Actually, Holly, while I'm not sure how much formal research has been done on it, texting while copresent is a common practice among the D/deaf/HOH community. People typically text each other during conferences while watching the interpreter instead of having sign conversations among themselves (of course, the rest of us do this too). Gallaudet students often walk along in groups texting with their Hiptops. This isn't my area of research, but you might ask on the DS-HUM or deaf academics listserv -- or I can forward your query. kathy Message: 6 Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 23:15:31 -0500 From: Holly Kruse <holly-kruse@utulsa.edu> Subject: [Air-l] Observation, and texting in noisy places To: <air-l@listserv.aoir.org> Message-ID: <C2729293.9ECE%holly-kruse@utulsa.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" As air-l list manager, although not really list content decision-maker, and mostly lurker (I am a proud lurker on a few lists, including a huge one that I founded almost 15 years ago and and on this one), I'd just like to say that I think it would be super-nifty if we could cease and desist, at least for a while, from all discussion of/comments about particular individuals and their flaws and strengths. I am very interested in the discussion of online research interviews, in the general discussion of the etymology and usage of terms like "lurker" and "troll," in the trends in landline vs. mobile telephone usage, and in other substantive discussions. With that in mind, I found very interesting an article in today's Washington Post about the growth of texting in noisy environments, like clubs, to communicate with those with whom one is physically co-present: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR2007051600 649.html I found myself thinking a bit about the use of texting in situations where it would be totally fine to chat aloud with the co-present friend (as opposed to in class or a meeting) but there may be environmental barriers. And it made me curious about the research being done -- and just the observations being made more generally -- on this phenomenon. Holly -- Holly Kruse Faculty of Communication The University of Tulsa 600 S. College Ave. Tulsa, OK 74104 918-631-3845 holly-kruse@utulsa.edu http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~holly-kruse<http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/%7Eholly-kruse> -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Katherine Mancuso, scholar, artist, activist, web designer thoughts on disability dance, crip culture, and social technology: http://museumfreak.livejournal.com linkblogging the world of designing media for connecting people: http://del.icio.us/museumfreak Alternate Roots: working at the intersection of art & activism: http://www.alternateroots.org "Disability is an art, an ingenious way to live." --Neil Marcus ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------