Recreational agents

The 'digital domain' integrates political, economic and social infrastructures through digital technologies and networks. A paradigm has emerged within the design of contemporary spaces to integrate concepts of the digital domain into physical spaces. This is no more evident than in the design of public spaces mediated by digital infrastrcutures. The 'digital divide' however signifies the separation between those with access to the digital domain and those without. This divide recognises that knowledge is power. By segregating the general public the divide makes evident the disadvantages of not being connected in this age of information. Here it will be argued that the more public space becomes mediated by digital infrastrcutres the further it will segregate the population's experience of public space. This segregation is examined here, through a series of projects, including an online gaming environment and a digitally mediated architectural design, to promote the role of access and subjective agency within the design of public recreational spaces.