Hyperlocality

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hyperlocality describes the state in which all devices and objects are digitally linked and can be localized locally. The term hyperlocality is made up of the English words hyperlinking and localization . The technological basis for hyperlocality are mobile devices, RFID , GPS , augmented reality and image recognition processes . In its journalistic dimension, the term hyperlocality stands for local journalism in a geographically limited area.

meaning

Hyperlocality is characterized by the merging of the physical world with the virtual world. In the state of hyperlocality, the real world functions like a website. Objects in the physical environment can be selected using mobile phones in order to obtain information about them or to provide them with comments. Different technologies can be used for this: RFID chips that are integrated into objects; Augmented Reality methods based on GPS and compass; as well as image recognition processes that recognize visual barcodes or objects by their shape via the smartphone camera . Contact lenses that show additional information directly into the field of vision are also conceivable as a future vision.

History of the concept of hyperlocality

In 2007, science fiction writer Bruce Sterling sketched everyday life in the hyperlocal future in an article for WIRED magazine.

In 2008, trend researcher and futurologist Max Celko described the possible effects of hyperlocality on society, trade and marketing in a cover story in GDI IMPULS magazine . The article made the term hyperlocality known to a broader public in the German-speaking region for the first time.

Hyperlocality in journalism

Hyperlocality in a journalistic context describes a variant of local journalism . The messages are only for the smallest communities, e.g. B. municipalities, neighborhoods and districts of interest. In addition to providing news, the networking of these communities also plays an important role. Due to the geographical limitation of the hyperlocal news room, the low publication costs as well as the simple communication and participation possibilities, the target groups of hyperlocal news offers are nowadays often addressed via the Internet.

The possibilities of Web 2.0 enable the users of hyper-local news offers to be closely integrated. In the role of a prosumer , users contribute content to the platforms they prefer and fill them with user-generated content . Providers of hyper-local news offerings use this content in different models. This type of crowdsourcing makes it possible to reduce journalism to the smallest local units and to pick up topics that are of interest to the users.

In addition to online offers, there are also print products with hyper-local content.

Hyper-local news service provider

Hyperlocal content can basically be divided into publisher-dependent and publisher-independent offers. Offers that are independent of the publisher are often run by citizens, freelance journalists or companies without a publishing background. Publisher-dependent offers are operated by the publishers directly, as subsidiaries or holdings.

An essential distinguishing feature between publisher-dependent and publisher-independent offers is the type of financing. While both providers of z. If, for example, foundations / grants can be financed or revenue can be generated from placing advertisements, publishers have the additional option of financing their offers directly.

Examples of hyper-local news offers

Platforms like "The Bakersfield Voice" or "YourHub" rely on the model of citizen journalism . Users are given the opportunity to post their own messages on an online platform. The platform provider can take on an additional selection function with regard to submitted messages and images.

This model can also be used to expand local reporting. In 2009 the New York Times started the project "The Local". The Local is a neighborhood blog for the East Village , Fortgreene, and Clinton Hill neighborhoods. Users provide content for the blog, which is each managed by an editor .

Another model for expanding local reporting is the "Triblocal" platform sponsored directly by the Chicago Tribune . On the platform, users can post content for six districts in the greater Chicago area . A selection of this content is printed weekly.

The "Everyblock" project, launched in early 2008, uses the methodology of data journalism . A large number of data and messages from public authorities and administrations, as well as links to local reports from various blogs, newspapers, radio and television stations or advertising offers are collected and grouped.

With the help of software, this data is assigned to different areas of a map by means of geotagging . The users can select areas of interest on a map or enter their postcode and thus receive a variety of different information about the selected area.

Quotes

"Hyperlocality describes the state in which all devices and objects are networked and can be localized locally - that is, the moment when the physical world and the virtual world merge and we constantly access their levels from everywhere." - Max Celko

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bruce Sterling : Dispatches From the Hyperlocal Future . In: WIRED . June 26, 2007 ( wired.com [accessed June 12, 2018]).
  2. ↑ Celko , Max (2008): Hyperlocality: The New Creation of Reality . In: GDI Impuls , 26 (2), pp. 8-17.
  3. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from June 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bakersfieldvoice.com
  4. ↑ http://yourhub.denverpost.com/denver
  5. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from June 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bakersfieldvoice.com
  6. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/marketing/thelocal/
  7. ↑ http://triblocal.com/
  8. ↑ http://www.everyblock.com/

Web links