Takayuki Suzuki, Andrew Dillon

The Emergence of the Placial-Technical: Digital Placemaking as Information Practice

Introduction

The emergence of the placial-technical: digital placemaking as information practice. Introducing the 'placial-technical' framework, this paper redefines digital placemaking as an information practice. It analyzes how digital technologies, AI, and algorithms shape our experience of place for ethical design.

Abstract

In an era of ubiquitous computing and generative AI, our experience of place is increasingly mediated by digital technologies, creating hybrid environments where physical and virtual interactions converge. While fields like media and urban studies have explored this through the concept of ‘digital placemaking’—the use of digital media to create a sense of place—this phenomenon has received limited attention within information studies. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a new conceptual framework, termed the ‘placial-technical,’ which refines the traditional socio-technical perspective to specifically analyze the mutual shaping of place, information, and technology. Using this lens, we argue that digital placemaking should be understood as a form of information practice, encompassing the socially situated ways individuals seek, use, and share information to construct meaning about their surroundings. Drawing on literature from human geography, media studies, and Human Computer Interaction, we trace the evolution of placemaking concepts and technologies. We then analyze digital placemaking through the dual processes of perception (how information inputs shape our understanding of place) and representation (how we create informational outputs to depict place), focusing on the growing influence of algorithms and generative AI. This synthesis reveals research gaps and offers implications for information studies. By conceptualizing digital placemaking as an information practice, the field can extend its theoretical and methodological tools while informing the ethical design of technologies that foster authentic community engagement and place attachment in a digitally mediated world.

Review

This paper presents a timely and significant intervention into how information studies engages with the evolving relationship between digital technologies and human experience of place. By proposing the 'placial-technical' framework, the authors effectively address a recognized gap in the literature, moving beyond traditional socio-technical perspectives to specifically analyze the intricate, mutual shaping of place, information, and technology in an era defined by ubiquitous computing and generative AI. The interdisciplinary foundation, drawing on human geography, media studies, and Human Computer Interaction, strengthens its conceptual grounding and positions it as a valuable contribution for bridging disciplinary divides. The core argument that digital placemaking should be understood as a form of information practice is compelling and well-articulated. Framing it as the socially situated ways individuals seek, use, and share information to construct meaning about their surroundings offers a powerful lens for analysis. The paper’s analytical approach, dissecting digital placemaking through the dual processes of perception (how information inputs shape understanding) and representation (how we create informational outputs to depict place), particularly in the context of algorithms and generative AI, promises to offer rich and sophisticated insights into the mechanics of how digital tools reshape our experience of place. Ultimately, this paper makes a strong case for integrating digital placemaking more deeply into information studies, suggesting new avenues for theoretical and methodological development. Its implications extend beyond academic discourse, informing the critical and ethical design of technologies that aspire to foster authentic community engagement and place attachment in increasingly hybrid environments. This conceptual framework not only bridges disciplinary divides but also provides essential tools for navigating the complexities of our digitally mediated world, positioning it as a highly relevant and impactful contribution to the field and beyond.

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