The Trojan Horse(s) of "Hello World" culture : the story of Sony PSP domestication through the eyes of the Homebrew users

Amin, MZ 2012, The Trojan Horse(s) of "Hello World" culture : the story of Sony PSP domestication through the eyes of the Homebrew users , PhD thesis, University of Salford.

PDF Restricted to Repository staff only until 31 July 2024. Download (21MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Technology that is released to the public is often "locked down" or "tethered" ready for domestication by the regular user in the way that the manufacturer believes that it will be used (Zittrain, 2007). However, when users such as the hacker users go against the view of the manufacturer and unlock technology in order to domesticate it further, then tensions between different groups can become apparent. Drawing upon the literature of the Social Shaping of Technology and that of hackers/hacker cultures, this thesis focuses upon the domestication practices of the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) game console by the Homebrew community in the way they engage with it. Outlining the three key perspectives of the social artefact groups, the hacker users, Sony users and Sony, I examine the relationship of Homebrew within the social artefact groups. Examining the Sony PSP Homebrew phenomena shows various reasons emerging to explain why different groups engage in domestication practices of different kinds. I afford rich insight into the dynamics of informal and formal development processes, specifically as related to handheld gaming and even more so to the Sony PSP. I detail the motivations and reasons why hacker users hack game consoles. I explain the relationships amongst hacker users of the PSP, with a focus on their differing sets of ethics. Finally, I offer insight into the roles of Web 2.0 technologies in opening up hacking and the implication of this for the conceptualisation of hacker ethics.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Contributors:	Light, BA (Supervisor) and Fletcher, G (Supervisor)
Schools:	Schools > School of Arts & Media
Depositing User:	Institutional Repository
Date Deposited:	04 Aug 2021 14:11
Last Modified:	04 Aug 2022 11:22
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/61426

Actions (login required)

Edit record (repository staff only)