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Virtual Communities

Bowling Alone, Online Together

Author: Felicia Wu Song

Publisher: Peter Lang

ISBN: 9781433103957

Category: Computers

Page: 178

View: 5604

Does contemporary Internet technology strengthen civic engagement and democratic practice? The recent surge in online community participation has become a cultural phenomenon enmeshed in ongoing debates about the health of American civil society. But observations about online communities often concentrate on ascertaining the true nature of community and democracy, typically rehearsing familiar communitarian and liberal perspectives. This book seeks to understand the technology on its own terms, focusing on how the technological and organizational configurations of online communities frame our contemporary beliefs and assumptions about community and the individual. It analyzes key structural features of thirty award-winning online community websites to show that while the values of individual autonomy, egalitarianism, and freedom of speech dominate the discursive content of these communities, the practical realities of online life are clearly marked by exclusivity and the demands of commercialization and corporate surveillance. Promises of social empowerment are framed within consumer and therapeutic frameworks that undermine their democratic efficacy. As a result, online communities fail to revolutionize the civic landscape because they create cultures of membership that epitomize the commodification of community and public life altogether.
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Social Computing and Virtual Communities

Author: Panayiotis Zaphiris,Chee Siang Ang

Publisher: CRC Press

ISBN: 9781420090437

Category: Computers

Page: 303

View: 9179

Growing more quickly than we can study or come to fully understand it, social computing is much more than the next thing. Whether it is due more to technology-driven convenience or to the basic human need to find kindred connection, online communication and communities are changing the way we live. Social Computing and Virtual Communities compiles contributions from international experts to offer the sort of multidisciplinary study that is required in any investigation of communities. Delving fully into theories and methods, application areas, and types of online social environments, this book — Introduces several theories regarding online social interaction Provides a general overview of methodologies, qualitative and quantitative, for analyzing and evaluating virtual communities Makes an in-depth investigation into e-learning communities and the formation of social networks of learners Examines healthcare communities motivated by physical pain, illness, and burdensome symptoms Discusses intellectual property (IP) issues, including those involving user-generated content Delves into the topic of online trust Introduces virtual communities, in which users immerse themselves in a 3D virtual environment, including MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing games) Presents an unusual community of older people of Chinese culture who perceive virtual communities as a place where old beliefs and traditional norms can be preserved Explores the rapid rise of social networking sites (SNS) Books of this kind are uncommon. This work not only provides case studies of different domains of virtual communities and different types of social technologies but also emphasizes theoretical and methodological aspects required to research and analyze such communities.
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The Virtual Community

Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier

Author: Howard Rheingold

Publisher: MIT Press

ISBN: 9780262261104

Category: Computers

Page: 480

View: 4619

Howard Rheingold has been called the First Citizen of the Internet. In this book he tours the "virtual community" of online networking. He describes a community that is as real and as much a mixed bag as any physical community -- one where people talk, argue, seek information, organize politically, fall in love, and dupe others. At the same time that he tells moving stories about people who have received online emotional support during devastating illnesses, he acknowledges a darker side to people's behavior in cyberspace. Indeed, contends Rheingold, people relate to each other online much the same as they do in physical communities.Originally published in 1993, The Virtual Community is more timely than ever. This edition contains a new chapter, in which the author revisits his ideas about online social communication now that so much more of the world's population is wired. It also contains an extended bibliography.
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Virtual Communities, Social Networks and Collaboration

Author: Athina A. Lazakidou

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

ISBN: 1461436346

Category: Computers

Page: 249

View: 4180

Online communities are among the most obvious manifestations of social networks based on new media technology. Facilitating ad-hoc communication and leveraging collective intelligence by matching similar or related users have become important success factors in almost every successful business plan. Researchers are just beginning to understand virtual communities and collaborations among participants currently proliferating across the world. Virtual Communities, Social Networks and Collaboration covers cutting edge research topics of utmost real-world importance in the specific domain of social networks. This volume focuses on exploring issues relating to the design, development, and outcomes from electronic groups and online communities, including: - The implications of social networking, - Understanding of how and why knowledge is shared among participants, - What leads to participation, effective collaboration, co-creation and innovation, - How organizations can better utilize the potential benefits of communities in both internal operations, marketing, and new product development.
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Building Virtual Communities

Learning and Change in Cyberspace

Author: K. Ann Renninger,Wesley Shumar

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

ISBN: 9780521785587

Category: Computers

Page: 380

View: 4303

Building Virtual Communities examines how learning and cognitive change are fostered by online communities. The chapters provide a basis for thinking about the dynamics of Internet community building. This includes consideration of the role of the self or individual as a participant in virtual community, and the design and refinement of technology as the conduit for extending and enhancing the possibilities of community building in cyberspace. Building Virtual Communities will interest educators, psychologists, sociologists, and researchers in human-computer interaction.
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Identity and Leadership in Virtual Communities: Establishing Credibility and Influence

Establishing Credibility and Influence

Author: Hickey, Dona J.

Publisher: IGI Global

ISBN: 1466651512

Category: Social Science

Page: 321

View: 5521

The presence and ubiquity of the internet continues to transform the way in which we identify ourselves and others both online and offline. The development of virtual communities permits users to create an online identity to interact with and influence one another in ways that vary greatly from face-to-face interaction. Identity and Leadership in Virtual Communities: Establishing Credibility and Influence explores the notion of establishing an identity online, managing it like a brand, and using it with particular members of a community. Bringing together a range of voices exemplifying how participants in online communities influence one another, this book serves as an essential reference for academicians, researchers, students, and professionals, including bloggers, software designers, and entrepreneurs seeking to build and manage their engagement online.
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Technical, Social, and Legal Issues in Virtual Communities: Emerging Environments

Emerging Environments

Author: Dasgupta, Subhasish

Publisher: IGI Global

ISBN: 1466615540

Category: Computers

Page: 373

View: 1586

Technical, Social and Legal Issues in Virtual Communities: Emerging Environments examines a variety of issues related to virtual communities and social networking, addressing issues related to team identification, leader-member issues, social networking for education, participation in social networks, and other issues directly related to this eclectic field of study. This publication provides comprehensive coverage and understanding of the social, cultural, organizational, human, and cognitive issues related to the virtual communities and social networking. Readers will find that this book encompasses an overall body of knowledge regarding participation of individuals, groups and organizations in virtual communities and networks, by providing an outlet for scholarly research in the area.
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Studies in Virtual Communities, Blogs, and Modern Social Networking: Measurements, Analysis, and Investigations

Measurements, Analysis, and Investigations

Author: Dasgupta, Subhasish

Publisher: IGI Global

ISBN: 1466640235

Category: Technology & Engineering

Page: 317

View: 2193

Social networks are a nearly universal element of modern, information-driven societies, one that presents many opportunities and advantages—and challenges and hazards—for organizations as well as individuals. Studies in Virtual Communities, Blogs, and Modern Social Networking: Measurements, Analysis, and Investigations provides a cross-cultural perspective of social networking, including ethical considerations and business implications. Readers will find a detailed treatment of technical, social, and legal issues inherent in online virtual communities, exploring methods of effectively implementing the latest social tools in their everyday practices, both professional and personal, in the interest of improved security and sustainability in digital collaborative environments.
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Novel Applications of Virtual Communities in Healthcare Settings

Author: El Morr, Christo

Publisher: IGI Global

ISBN: 1522529594

Category: Medical

Page: 247

View: 9139

Virtual communities have gained popularity in many growing fields and have continued to expand into healthcare environments. Analyzing the impact these communities have can help provide more effective methods to support patients and community members. Novel Applications of Virtual Communities in Healthcare Settings is a crucial scholarly reference source that examines the challenges virtual communities can face, as well as the advantages they provide to members of healthcare organizations. Featuring pertinent topics that include evaluation frameworks, disaster management, knowledge translation, and user engagement, this book is ideal for medical practitioners, academicians, students, and healthcare researchers that are interested in taking part in the latest discussions of virtual communities within medical fields.
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Virtual Communities

Author: Jan Marco Leimeister,Balaji Rajagopalan

Publisher: M.E. Sharpe

ISBN: 0765643774

Category: Business & Economics

Page: 224

View: 9873

Written for both scholars and practitioners, this volume focuses on the design, management, use and impacts of Virtual Communities (VCs) from technological, social and economic perspectives. It brings together peer-reviewed research articles that give an in-depth review of the state-of-the-art practices, and also shows opportunities for research and practice in and around VCs.
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Online Communities

Commerce, Community Action, and the Virtual University

Author: Chris Werry,Miranda Mowbray

Publisher: Prentice Hall

ISBN: 9780130323828

Category: Computers

Page: 416

View: 573

This title focuses on the three main areas of online communities: commerce, higher education and the non-profit sector. Issues discussed include the effects of commercial communities on the social interaction of community members and alternative models for online community organization.
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Modern Organizations in Virtual Communities

Author: Kisielnicki, Jerzy

Publisher: IGI Global

ISBN: 9781931777360

Category: Computers

Page: 316

View: 5291

With such easy access to the Internet and the opportunity for organizations to reach other organizations and individuals around the world faster and more efficiently, modern organizations are rapidly becoming a part of the virtual community. This book presents a comprehensive collection of research works that describe such organizations, the policies and practices that they have implemented and challenges that they have faced throughout their adaptation to the virtual world.
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Social Capital Modeling in Virtual Communities: Bayesian Belief Network Approaches

Bayesian Belief Network Approaches

Author: Daniel, Ben

Publisher: IGI Global

ISBN: 1605666645

Category: Education

Page: 284

View: 3805

"In this book researchers have employed different approaches to examine and describe various types of relationships among people in communities by using social capital as a conceptual and theoretical tool"--Provided by publisher.
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Educator's Guide to Electronic Networking

Creating Virtual Communities

Author: Barbara L. Kurshans

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

ISBN: 9780788126819

Category:

Page: 110

View: 3121

Provides a framework for educators to help think about, choose, create, & design an electronically networking community. Helps planners & designers to answer 4 basic questions: 1. What type of networked community do I want to create? 2. What factors do I need to consider in selecting an electronic network to support this community? 3. What network projects exist already that provide the best resources to meet the community's needs? 4. How can the memebers of the community gain access to the network? Glossary. Bibliography. Charts & tables.
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Utopias

A Brief History from Ancient Writings to Virtual Communities

Author: Howard P. Segal

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

ISBN: 1118234405

Category: Religion

Page: 224

View: 9291

This brief history connects the past and present of utopian thought, from the first utopias in ancient Greece, right up to present day visions of cyberspace communities and paradise. Explores the purpose of utopias, what they reveal about the societies who conceive them, and how utopias have changed over the centuries Unique in including both non-Western and Western visions of utopia Explores the many forms utopias have taken – prophecies and oratory, writings, political movements, world's fairs, physical communities – and also discusses high-tech and cyberspace visions for the first time The first book to analyze the implicitly utopian dimensions of reform crusades like Technocracy of the 1930s and Modernization Theory of the 1950s, and the laptop classroom initiatives of recent years
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Computational Visualistics, Media Informatics, and Virtual Communities

Author: Jochen Schneider,Thomas Strothotte,Winfried Marotzki

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

ISBN: 3322813185

Category: Computers

Page: 133

View: 9338

In April, 2003 representatives of a group of mostly German research universities offering degree programs in the areas of Computational Visualistics and Media Informatics met for the first time in Magdeburg, Germany. This volume collects information on their views of their own degree and research programs as a starting point for discussions.