Non-identity places have been an interesting theme of theoretic considerations and research in human geography for years. Scholars reflect on the nature of these places. The most popular conceptions in this respect were formed in 1976 (Relph: Placelessness) and 1995 (Auge: non-places). We use in our project, as a kind of common denominator for both concepts, the term non-identity places. It is important from an international perspective. On the European continent, the expression ‘non-place’ is used more often, while in the USA it is ‘placelessness’. Our term is supposed to be a bridge between those two visions in the debate. Modern times, with their great social mobility, presence of digital technology in shaping daily lives of humans and the development of social communication possibilities make the existing well-established positions not sufficient for explaining the phenomenon of non-identity places.
Thanks to the continuous development of interdisciplinary theories in social geography and the development of debates over the role of digital media, what becomes possible is the search for a theoretical and empirical answer to the challenging question about the nature, role and reception of non-identity places. Our initial research hypothesis is related to the assumption that non-identity places in digital times and developed communication relations change their character or simply cease to exist. The overriding aim of the project is to use an approach offered by communication geography to solve the cognitive problem related to the determination of contemporary nature of non-identity places, their role in human’s life and users’ reception.
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