time space compression and space time comprssion difference

When European settlers first built colonies in the east, they were all in proximity to each other, limited by stagecoach travel.įig. Take, for instance, the expansion of the US from east to west. As long as a rail line or road can be built, most places are now accessible. With transportation advances, physical limitations have greatly diminished. Second, globalization is occurring as a result of many more factors than just greater speed in communication, even if it is a contributing factor. First, every person and place is experiencing the world differently, and overgeneralizing the human experience incorrectly categorizes some groups.

There are several critiques of space-time compression in that it oversimplifies much bigger processes in the world. Per his theory, this individualization has led to an increase in social media and a decline in traditional social institutions. As a result, there is greater individualization as people are able to connect anywhere in the world without needing to meet in person. He attributed the rise of globalization to increases in communication across larger distances. 2 Harvey proposed this as a result of studying the change in the number of events and activities in day-to-day life in the early 20th century. Time-space compression is a Marxist theory proposed by David Harvey to describe how the physical importance of a place decreases as the pace of life increases. This is an entirely different concept, although it deals with the same issue of time and space. Difference Between Time-Space Convergence and Time-Space Compressionīefore moving forward, you may have also heard of time-space compression. However, it means some places have had major disruptions in their way of life and may have seen declines in their population as a result. This has the potential to be a great thing for places and people that thrive on diversity, innovation, and change. With the ability to travel and communicate with people from all over the world, the distances between us feel much smaller. Humans are social creatures and interactions are a major part of our day, regardless of what tasks or jobs we have to perform. Time-space convergence may also mean that the world feels smaller. 1 - Stagecoach in Gotthard Pass, Switzerland stagecoach travel made places feel 'bigger' than they do now because of the amount of time and distance spent traveling Whereas letters and face-to-face interaction were the primary forms of communication 200 years ago, we now have ways of meeting people and getting to know them without even stepping out of our rooms!įig.

With every step, less time is required to travel to places, making travel easier and more frequent.Īlong with travel, communication technology such as phones, computers, and the internet have further closed the space between places. Travel times have been consistently decreasing for the last 200 years as stagecoaches replaced walking, railroads replaced stagecoaches, and automobiles replaced railroads. Time-space convergence is the process of travel time diminishing as technological advancements in transportation and communication bring places closer together. Time-Space Convergence: Geography Definition Let's take a look at the definition of time-space convergence. Sounds elaborate, but there's a term for this: time-space convergence. Places and people feel much closer to you, even if geographically, they are very far away. Access to these amenities and services actually appear to decrease distance. Regardless of where you may live, you may have access to devices connected to the Internet and fast transport (private automobiles and planes). The world has never been more connected than it is now.

Time space compression and space time comprssion difference