Localized Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Seoul’s Urban Neighborhoods

Theoretically guided by communication infrastructure theory and theory of planned behavior, this study has two aims: to assess the experiences and intentions of Seoul residents with regard to their localized use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and to identify the factors influencing those experiences and intentions. Online survey data (n = 901) were collected from adult residents of Seoul in the summer of 2013. The results indicate that various ICT channels (especially websites, online news sites, blogs, online cafés, and smartphone apps) could potentially be customized to serve urban neighborhoods. Positive attitudes and subjective norms related to localized ICT use behavior were significant factors for use of almost all ICT channels considered in the current study. Individuals’ integrated connectedness to community storytelling network was a consistently significant and positive factor in relation to both experience and intention of localized uses of ICTs. Among four community engagement variables included in the current study, community activity participation was associated with the experience (but not with the intention) of localized ICT uses.