Digital technology and the expansion of outdoor experience in outdoor activities

Abstract

Introduction After the outbreak of covid-pandemic, the digital age has been highlighted in society, where the divide between indoors and outdoors (and work and private life) has both intensified and blurred. It has become more pronounced as daily life increasingly unfolds within a finely tuned digital infrastructure, making venturing outdoors less taken for granted. At the same time, digital technologies disrupt this infrastructure, causing the boundary between indoors and outdoors to fade. Especially in outdoor activities, digital tools like smartphones, GPS systems, and sports apps have become deeply embedded in the experience of being outdoors. These technologies are no longer mere accessories to outdoor activities, they have become indispensable to how we orient and navigate in natural areas (Kennedy at al. 2024). Still, the outdoor experience also has a certain allure, prompting people to take a break from their smartphones (Helms et al., 2019). For individuals, questions about being outdoors, such as to what extent they rely on digital infrastructures, have become central. People engage with digital technologies in diverse ways, from fully embracing them (complexification) to removing their presence (simplification). This research proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the intersection of technology and outdoor experiences, focusing on how these technologies shape, support, or challenge our relationship with nature.

Methods This research develops a conceptual framework to explore the interaction between digital technologies and the outdoor experience, and how digital tools influence engagement with the outdoor environment. Rather than treating these elements as separate forces, it examines how they influence each other. Using the concept of an ecology of possibilities (Simons 2022), this research explores the potential of the digital infrastructure in outdoor activities. The goal is to identify ways in which digital tools can strengthen the appeal of outdoor activities and deepen the experience.

Results This research shows that digital technologies can enhance and replace traditional outdoor functions, expanding human capabilities. By responsibly integrating digital tools, we can enrich nature experiences and create new possibilities for outdoor activities.