xxii Personal Content Experience: Managing Digital Life in the Mobile Age BOB, 28, ACTIVIST Bob leads a double life. In the offi ce he plays the role of a web designer, dutifully crafting page content and the occa- sional script for nondescript companies. After offi ce hours Bob turns to his passion, the AARGH.org movement (Activism Against Rotten Globaliza- tion). He is part of a mildly radical activist cell which is tightly connected virtually, although the members live all over the globe. The majority of his closest allies come from the UK and France. They usually gather physically together only for protests, which may take place once or twice a year. The rest of the time they meet over the Internet, using all the channels available: e-mail, IM, VOIP, video calling, wiki pages, shared storage, and whatnot. When Bob and his allies gather for a demonstration they apply all of the available communication techniques. Besides activism, Bob leads a quiet life, does not drink or smoke, listens to classical music, and has no pets. The only thing that worries his good landlady is the health of her dear tenant: “Does the poor lad have any friends at all, spending his time with all those computer screens and mobile phones in his room?” CATHY, 40, ARTIST Cathy is a self-employed graphics artist. Ever since she learned to hold a crayon, art has been her passion. Over the years she has explored various mediums and methods of expression, but these days she is back to her beloved topic, watercolour paintings of fl owers and herbs. Cathy taught herself to use computers at her local Open University, with the help of the old fl ame of hers, Steve. Now she is able to scan her paintings and send them via e-mail to the Web shop. Her work is displayed at a gallery on Crow Street, London, where she shares space with a dozen other artists. They have established the Web shop where the artwork is on sale. The sales are slow, but the rent is cheap, thanks to the rich old lady that funds the gallery as a hobby. Cathy maintains an overfl owing phonebook fi lled with details of fellow artists, many of whom have become her close friends over the years. Too bad the phone bill is overfl owing too.