Space and beyond

This week Elizabeth and I facilitate the discussion on lab space, so for the blog I'd like to extend the discussion topics for class and the readings. I am interested in physical space and its relation to human interactions. While I feel limiting the discussion to computer labs as a means of helping students write does pose some serious limits on the range of discussion, our conversation in class did delve into the human aspect of teaching (which was a pleasant surprise). Basically, we cannot assume a physical space can or cannot do this or that. Instead, the human beings USING the space help create interactions among users.
If space affects discourse, then it surely affects beliefs as well. For example, I began researching how landscape affects interaction in the context of a third world country (and this is something I am continuing to investigate). We should not assume that our space doesn't affect us, even if our spaces are so transparent we do not "see" them. We can extend these ideas to modern, urban spaces in any city, even. I am quite obviously interested in space, and the issue of computer labs and teaching serves as a nice springboard to larger issues.