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This paper outlines the concept and theory of polymedia developed in collaboration with Daniel Miller (UCL) drawing on our three-year long (2007-2010) ESRC-funded comparative study of transnational communication among separated families (between the UK and the Philippines or Trinidad). At a first level, polymedia refers to the emerging environment of proliferating communicative opportunities that is gradually becoming a reality for some people (and we recognise this is not a universal phenomenon) across the world. Once access and connection costs are met, interpersonal communication can now rely on a wide array of new media and platforms of which may be used to complement each other. Understanding mediated interpersonal communication requires us to understand the concurrent use of these media as a whole. The concept of polymedia emerged precisely in order to describe this emerging communicative environment which we witnessed in our comparative qualitative research comprising of over 180 interviews. The paper discusses why polymedia was preferred over possible alternatives such as media ecology, multimedia, multichannel, or multiplatform.

In the second part of the paper, I will discuss the theoretical implications of polymedia. Given that the concept implies a plurality of media, our analysis shifts away from the concept of affordances (Hutchby, 2001) and the ways in which particular technologies afford specific types of action. By contrast, in polymedia the emphasis shifts to the emotional and moral implications of choosing one medium over another. Drawing on examples from the empirical research the paper will illustrate how polymedia become part of emotional management strategies and the effort in which people try to control their end of their relationship.