Picturing Meeting Places in the Age of Ubiquitous Mobile Technologies

Findings in the relevant previous academic works show that the meaning and image of urban space in inhabitants’ mind is quite different than previous times by considering the penetration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into city space . Townsend (2000) have also highlighted how the temporal quality of wireless and mobile networks reconfigure the spatial and visual qualities of a city, therefore, it should cause us to question the way we plan our cities and social space in urban space. Particularly, smart phones being one of the most crucial components of everyday life rituals have changed a lot. People still need urban components while circulating in the city. However, location based information applications and social media used via smart phones have become an essential part of our everyday life. The most crucial issue here is the necessity of understanding the effects of mobile technologies on behaviours in urban space by city builders.
STSM in Utrecht is planned to reveal the most recognised places of the city through meeting activity and meeting places. At this point the critical approach of interpreting effects of mobile communication possibilities in urban space on legibility issue, perception of physical space and behavioural patterns brings the challenge. STSM is conducted in 5 focus areas of urban space which are; 1. Central Station (Utrecht Centraal), 2. Vredenburg Square, 3. Oudegracht Street, 4. Neude (urban square), and 5. Dom Plein (urban square). During the research process Central Library and Korte Minrebroederstraatare are included into the focus areas and they are used as additional mediums in the questionnaire component of this research.