Ian Hutchby is Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Communication at Brunel University and Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. His research involves the application of conversation analysis to various areas of technologically-mediated interaction, including the distinctive properties of broadcast talk and the possibilities of human-machine interaction; as well as the analysis of children's communicative competence
"""'Postmodern babble has done little to help us understand how contemporary communication technologies have changed our world. This book fills a crucial gap in our knowledge by sticking to a focus on how ordinary people actually interact with these technologies. Using the insights of conversation analysis in an easy to understand way, this impressive volume will be required reading for students of work, technology, organizations and cultural studies."" David Silverman, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Goldsmiths' College, London"