International Journal of Information and Computer Science (IJICS) Volume 4, 2015

doi: 10.14355/ijics.2015.04.009

www.iji-cs.org

Technological Assemblages within Human

Society
Wei Hongbo*1, Jing Yang2, Mengjie Zhang2
The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China

College of Computer Science and Technology, Guizhou University, China

zy11005@nottingham.edu.cn; 2 yangjing6646@yahoo.com.hk; 2Zhang199204@126.com

*1

Abstract
With the rapid development of information, especially the mobile phone has become more irreplaceable, we discuss in what
essential ways the mobile phone functions to human and the history of mobile phone and territorialization process, finally how
it changes the society. We find that the iphone phenomenon demonstrates that there exist the negative aspects among humantechnology assemblage. Anyway, the assemblage has provided a method of understanding the relation between human and
technology, people should take the maximum advantage of it and pursue more convenient and healthy life.
Keywords
The Assemblage; Mobile Phone; Human and Technology; Healthy Life

Introduction
Deleuze and Guattari are the pioneers who developed the notion of assemblage, and they provided a method of
recognizing the relationship between human and technology. Present society is an information society. People
constantly send out and receive information through universal technology, such as mobile phone, computer, the
Internet and TV. Especially mobile phone is the primary machine that engages with communication for individuals
and society. Currently, smart phone owns all kinds of functions, and people not only use it to make telephone calls,
but also watch video or live television and surf the Internet on it. With a variety of functions, smart phone attracts a
large number of people to purchase and use it; meanwhile, it creates an identity for its users of being popular with
taste. Mobile phone industry also advertises continually its products to encourage people to purchase or update
old phones. As a result, the assemblage of human-phone is sustainable, and the number of mobile phones and
users is increasing at all times. This essay will focus on the certain technology material; it will introduce the
development history of mobile phone in order to discuss in what essential ways the mobile phone functions to
human; and how it changes the society will be discussed as well (the technology material will not be fixed-line
phone since it is not mobile telecommunication device, so the assemblage that created by it is not flexible).
Concepts of Assemblage and Key Words
As Wise (2011 p.90) stated that the concept of assemblage has been studied in Deleuze and Guattaris work, it
relates to the play of contingency, structure, organization and change. He pointed out that assemblage is a process
of arranging, organizing and fitting together. Therefore, it is a dynamic term rather than a static term. Assemblage
is precisely the process of assembling. Graham (2010) also interpreted the concept of assemblages:
Assemblages, as conceived of by Deleuze and Guattari, are complex constellations of objects, bodies, expressions,
qualities, and teeriotories that come together for vary periods of time to ideally create new ways of functioning.
(p.18)
Therefore, assemblage is not more than things, but a variety of objects that work together in a particular relation,
and they have internal and external effects during the vary periods of time. The elements or objects among it
contingently, naturally or forcedly come together in particular relations; they work as a whole communicating with
and affecting with each other. At the same time, the traits of elements may be altered by its components so as to

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constitute a new living assemblage. During the territorializing process of assemblage, each objects is being
constantly made and unmade (reterritorializing and deterritorializing); that is internally and externally
interrupting and flowing; they may move apart or gather together. Eventually, territories are created during the
dynamic process of assemblage. Wise (2011 p.91) pointed out territories consist of not only space but a claim and a
stake to express. Therefore, an assemblage is a certain whole that creates a territory and expresses an identity. In
addition, assemblage involves another dimension, which is semiotic system. This system is called a collective
assemblage of enunciation, and discourses or symbols signify the deeper meaning of effects, emotion, objects and
other elements in assemblage (Wise, 2011 p.93).
History of Mobile Phone
Before mobile phone was invented, people generally used the telephone pager (also called beeper) which was
invented by Alfred J. Gross in 1949 (Coursey, 2000). It was a cuboid mobile telecommunication device with a small
display screen, and it can but only display words and Arabic numerals; it is incapable of neither showing images
nor receiving voice messages. Every pager has a unique number, and if a person needs to send information to the
pager owner, he must first find a fixed-line phone to call the pager station, and then he tells the message need to be
transmitted and the owner number to the pager station, so it will be sent to the receiver from the pager station.
Normally, the message is about requiring replying. The receiver needs to find a fixed-line phone to call the number
that he received, which means it is unable to respond immediately. To sum up, a pager is the communication
machine which can only receive monotonous short message; unlike mobile phone, it can neither receive
multimedia information nor possess instant communication function.
Later on, the first portable cell phone was born in 1973, and the inventor Dr. Martin Cooper introduced it to market
in 1983(Anjarwalla, 2010). In addition, the quality of the new cellular device i7s given below:
The phone was about 10 or 11 inches high, about 1 1/2 inches across, and about 4 inches deep. It weighed about 2
1/2 poundsand the phone then cost $3,900. So that would be like buying a phone today for $10,000. (Anjarwalla,
2010)
Because of the very high price, there were merely a small number of people buying it, but some people replaced
pager with cell phone. However, the difference between a pager and the cell phone is that the former is able to
provide real-time communication through human voice, and the pager cannot, which is the significant
development. Compared to the modern mobile phone, cell phone is heavier and larger to be carried; additionally,
it can and only can be used to phone another, which means it does not have message, music, video, and internet
function. In conclusion, the cell phone represents that telephone instant communication era has begun.
At present, smart phones are so popular that virtually the majority of people are using it. Literally, a smart phone
is capable processing information as a palm computer. Essentially, it includes message, calling, music, video,
games, camera and Internet function, and it can install any apps on. With enormous functionality, this device
should be called the bridge which connects personal communication and mass media. Iphone (which was invented
by Steve Jobs) is one of the most comprehensive devices, so it can be a representative of smart phones. The concept
for an iphone was conceived by Apple worker John Casey in 2000, which combined Ipod (mp3) and telephone
(Bellis, n.d.). The original concept for generating iphone can represent the primary idea of smart phone; its
structure is the combination of telephone and other media machine. Therefore, the smart phone represents that the
mobile phone is no longer instant communication equipment but a multi-media machine with telephone function.
In conclusion, the development of mobile phone demonstrates that it is beyond simply a telephone communication
machine, since it owns a variety of media information functions. It produces the connection between human and
society; it also provides all sorts of information for human at the same time. Finally, it brings human to a much
broader way relating to communication with the technology.
Territorialization Process
The most significant function of mobile phone is to contact people. Human uses this technology machine to contact
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family members, their friends, their work partners or other people that they need to have a conversation. It is true
that technology plays an essential part in the communication of human, because the common way of
communication is conversation. When mobile phone once is held in humans hand and the user presses the key,
the process of territorialization starts. Next, another mobile phone rings and another person picks up the phone.
The users organ is articulated with mobile phone: his hand, thumb, ear, mouth and lungs. The human-phonehuman territory will not disappear until they press the cancel button on the phone and stop talking
(deterritorialization). Next, another call appears and users enter the human-phone assemblage again and the circle
constantly repeats (reterritorializiation). Additionally, Bennett (2010, p31) described agency as involves not mere
motion, but willed or intended motion, where motion can only be willed or intended by a subject. Therefore, the
agency of human-phone assemblage is the willing of people to obtain communication with others. The agency
plays a fundamental role as a bridge or an engine which collects human and non-human parts or activates the
assemblage, which is quite vital for territorializing progress.
In addition, the mobile phone first can only be used to call another telephone machine until the function of sending
text message emerges (the first generation of cell phone have solely telephone function). A large number of people
begin to use this short message function instead of calling to inform other people. Comparing message function
with phone call, the former owns following traits: cheaper, quicker and more convenient, and visible words
without voice. This function allows people to leave any message as they want, even if in the situation (such as in
the meeting) in which the receiver cannot respond immediately. As a result, people frequently use this particular
function to create quick and short conversation. This message development actually increases the frequency of
communication among people. Message function transforms the territorializing process or produces a new
territory. Because the relation with in human-phone assemblage has been developed, it is not only about phone
calling but also about sending and receiving message. However, there are some drawbacks such as the receiver
may not receive or see it at the first time, which leads to tardily responding. This situation refers to external
interruption of territorialization process.
Furthermore, the technology of mobile phone constantly updates and finally evolves into the form of smart phone.
Typically, the smart phone is a whole of mobile phone, internet, TV and other information or media function. After
the smart phone comes out, a popular fashion has emerged and still exists. At present, the mobile phone is not only
a simple tool to send text messages or make telephone calls. Because of apps function of it, people install all kinds
of software in their devices. People regards smart phone as various tools according to different functions: they use
it to take photos, record videos, write down important information, watch electronic books, surf the Internet to
read the news, check weather forecast, shop online, send and receive e-mail; or it is used as a music player, a minitelevision, a torch (flash light which is on the back of the phone), a personal computer and even other tools. With
all sorts of functions, mobile phone is no longer a simple phone; it becomes the necessary communication tool for
human. The communication range which provided by this tool is more than person to person, but person to the
whole world as well as the process of territorialization. It breaks old assemblage and produces new assemblage
which is much larger than the former. Additionally, there are two significant functions contributing to constant
communication. They are: video call and voice message. Video call provides visual image while talking, with
complete conversation elements (such as body language and facial expression); while voice message allows
information being expressed more precisely and more lively. These two functions enrich communication
assemblage which is created by human and phone.
In summary, from a micro perspective, the bodies of human individuals and mobile phones are territorialized in
the human-phone assemblage; the hand and phone merge into an organic whole during the calling and talking
process (territorialization process). The process continually repeats (deterritorializing and reterritorializing) and
becomes imperative for human. Finally, the external phone integrates into the human body and becomes a new
internal organ of it. From a macro perspective, the development of mobile phone affects the elements of humanphone assemblage, for instance, the machine constantly becomes a new independent body such as from phone
(refers to simple phone call machine) to music device. The assemblage is being restructured at all times; it actually
maintains the reterritorialization and deterritorialization process of human-phone assemblage. As a result, the
human phone assemblage is continually abundant; meanwhile, the territory and the reterritorializing and
deterriotorializing processes are more active, which is the reason why people can receive more information
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rapidly.
A new assemblage: a man who abuses mobile phone finally is a phoneman.
Under the internal desire and external productivity, technology and human interact with each other. With the
evolution of phone technology, human appears less master of it. Phone addiction is embodied in human daily life,
especially in relatively young groups life. Some mobile phone users have fallen into a habit of obtaining
information from the technology machine, such as over frequently looking at some applications which show what
condition their friends are in. An evident fact can be found around numerous China universities and colleges: there
are a large number of undergraduates need to play their mobile phone before sleeping. They usually watch online
news for a while and update the information of their friends on a particular phone application. If they sleep
without doing this, it would be uncomfortable for them. However, there is a reason (impact body health) to define
this situation into addiction instead of simple habit. The majority of them watch the electronic display without light
on, which does harm to the health of their eyes. Meanwhile, the radiation emitted from mobile phone will be left
on the surface of users skin and has unhealthy effects on it. Moreover, CNN (cable news network) has reported
that WHO (world health organization) has stated: radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer (Dellorto,
2011). In addition to that situation, people can take out their mobile phones from pocket at any spare time. While
they are waiting for a bus, or when they are on the bus; while they are walking or eating; while they are at toilet;
even while they are driving etc, they will play mobile phones as long as they have no business to approach. The
truth is that they usually read the news, chat online, play games or update twitter with eyes staring on the screen
and neck bending in order to look at the screen. The addiction to mobile phone provides a desire for them to
constantly return (reterritorializing) to the new assemblage. As they spend massive time in playing mobile phones,
the pay more attention to online world and less attention to the real world around them. As a result, they are more
fond of or willing of online communication instead of interacting with surrounding environment. They obtain
more satisfaction from virtual world while less in the real world. This may lead them to being popular guys in
mobile phone world, whereas unsocial people in practical life. Furthermore, if an addicted user temporarily leaves
the mobile phone, he will feel depressive, anxious or even angry (Choliz, 2010). Excessive using of the mobile
phone transforms it to be not a simple communication tool but become the invisible prison for those addicted
users. That is the relation within the human-phone assemblage has altered, a new assemblage has born. Therefore,
phone addiction does not only have harmful influences on body organs of human (the material, physical objects or
bodies), but also weaken spiritual power, mentality (the abstract, ideas). The negative manifestation is addicted
organic body under the status of paralysis. This is the phone is controlling human and rather than an organ of
body, but the material body is becoming a mobile phone itself. If situation continues to develop according to this
addiction way, human would not be the master of mobile phone technology, on the contrary, this technology
would swallow human beings and completely control them. In this way, human even becomes a part or an internal
organ of mobile phone technology; that is phoneman.
To sum up, communication technology is either a double-edged sword which liberates and constrains human
actions. Human beings should be aware of not only the positive aspects of technology but also the negative aspects
of it; in addition, they should develop and take the maximum advantage of technology and also minimize the
negative aspects of it. It is their responsibility to be the master of technology and overcome the drawbacks of it.
Never should they allows the technology machine reverse the positions of the host and the guest. Otherwise, as
mentioned above, human would become a part of dead machine itself.
The Semiotic Dimension: Iphone Phenomenon
Apart from being addicted to mobile phone, as the leader of smart phone, iphone precisely does bring a number of
negative events. Judged from the semiotic system of assemblage, iphone contains linguistic meaning which
signifies relatively higher social class (wealth) and advanced personality. Several years ago, ordinary Chinese
people usually spent no more than two thousand RMB in mobile phone when there was no such a popular mobile
phone brand dominating the market. However, after iphone (5000 RMB) has launched in China, there is and still a
fashion that follows iphones coming. There are a number of certain reasons why iphone is the leader of smart

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phone and deserves the price, for example, the computation speed of its CPU is one of the fastest; all of its
programs are optimized to be operated faster and less of malfunctioning; unique advanced technology (iOS
operation system) and popular appearance; and most significantly, the apple company creates an apple store that
all applications involves games and software (which are able to be installed on iphone) are required to be
downloaded from it otherwise the users could not install anything. This is unlike any other mobile phone
companies (which people can optionally download all sorts of applications from random websites or stores); it is
about the intellectual property. Therefore, only genuine applications (normally guaranteed quality) can be used in
iphone while no pirated applications (have the potential of poor quality). As a result, iphone represents
outstanding taste which can endow special identities to people. There is a fairly large number of people purchasing
it and becoming one of the group members. They struggle to claim that they are the leaders of peers with the
identity of iphone. Meanwhile, varieties of electronic application (from apple store) companies continually update
their productions (development of them is based on human psychology to develop) in order to hold already exist
users and attract more people enter into the assemblage. They virtually exploit mobile phone addiction to seize
human mental willing. In addition, there are some reports from TV or online news that some people even sell one
of their kidneys because of lacking of money or some girls sell their bodies to rich people to obtain enough money
so as to purchase iphone and become one of the popular group members. This phenomenon can be interpreted
with the linguistic aspect of iphone assemblage: people who strive to squeeze into this assemblage, especially those
who does not possess equivalent social source, are attracted by the higher social class identity which iphone can
attach to users (people normally purchase goods within their economic capacity, therefore, excellent or expensive
goods also imply equal wealth and social class). With this popular device in hands, people become one of the
popular group members as they wish. That is unexpected comparison tendency in society. In this case, it
demonstrates that there exist the negative aspects among human-technology assemblage. Furthermore, those
companies promote their products without enough representing the attitude of the society to technologies. As
human beings themselves, they should be conscientious with the positive attitude towards various technologies in
consequence ensure the progressive effects to human society.
Conclusions
To sum up, the assemblage has provided a method of understanding the relation between human and technology,
so human beings should recognize the essential aspect between the connection of them and technology. The mobile
phone has been discussed in detail; it does not only refer to the mobile phone itself, but a combination of varieties
of technology machines. It can be independently regarded as a simple phone machine, or a palm net computer, or a
small LCD (liquid crystal display) television, a portable camera or other machines. Therefore, the discussion of it
should be regarded as a number of different technologies. Technologies create communication through
establishing the connection between people. However, technologies are not perfect so that they may constrain
human beings who are engaged with. According to the current society situation, it is essential and inevitable for
human beings to take advantage of various technologies with the purpose of improving the quality of living.
Human beings should avoid and improve the drawbacks of technology assemblage at the same time. That is to be
the master of technologies with high level of self-control and fully understanding of technologies. It is, human
beings themselves are responsible to sustain their life with their wisdom (refers to technologies). In general, human
and technology are inseparable in current society and they should take the maximum advantage of it. Being human
means permanently connecting with a technological assemblage that human should do is not to escape from these
assemblages because they are the creatures of society; what human beings can do is remain already existent
assemblages or create and move into new assemblages, so they need to take the most advantage of technologies. At
last, human beings should constantly improve, complete and invent technologies to pursue more convenient and
healthy life.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.61262029, Grant
No.6142013)

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Guizhou University brand specialty cultivation project (PTPY201302)

The second batch of undergraduate teaching project of Ministry of education, "national comprehensive reform pilot
professional Guizhou University"Project (ZGG2013004)
The Ministry of education of "excellence program" special construction of Guizhou University (ZYJ2014007).
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