Networked Knowledge: Cultural Sharing Amongst Dispersed Immigrants

Global immigration and population displacement are happening now at rates higher than ever before in modern society. There is a compelling opportunity to take advantage of networked technologies to preserve cultural identity in the face of immigration while addressing problems of cultural integration. Personal devices such as cell-phones and laptops that let us connect to the internet and one another are now widely affordable and available. There is potential here that one might exploit by sharing a network of knowledge that brings immigrant populations in touch with one another and with the culture of their new “chosen” homeland. This document presents a design research-based approach to possible future explorations in the field of service design that promotes culture preservation. It explores how a personally accessible mobile application can help to create and more importantly, visualize a network of peers one can depends on for culturally relevant information. The application was co-designed via a collaborative workshop with members of PICS: Progressive Intercultural Community Services, Surrey (British Columbia), a non-governmental organization that has been serving the community since 1987. The article also explores how building a virtual community can be the node to forming real-life communities and aid in cultural integration for recent Indian immigrants to Vancouver. Furthermore, the article proposes subjective solutions and their implications for a future mindful globalization.