December 2001 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Company vs. Community
by Sandeep Krishnamurthy 17 Dec '01

17 Dec '01

Colleagues, I teach an MBA E-Commerce class. In the customary class on online communities, we started off with a simple question- "What is the difference between a (for-profit)company and a community?" This seemingly simple question tied us up into knots as we tried to identify attributes that distinguished the two. The ones we did come up with included contractual vs. voluntary membership, rigid vs. loose organizational structure, paid vs. unpaid participants etc. I think you see where I am going. At the end of the discussion, one student(who has a Ph.D in biology) said- "Isn't community an all-encompassing construct? Can it not be argued that a company is really a type of community?" While I respected his comments, it really underscored the need to understand this better. I know community is a construct that is backed by decades of research. I have seen some of the seminal works- but perhaps, not all. How would you answer the basic question I started out with? Best, Sandeep --- Visit my Thought Central-http://faculty.washington.edu/sandeep/blog/blogger.html

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CFP2: Computer Games and Digital Cultures, gamesconference.org
by Frans Mäyrä 17 Dec '01

17 Dec '01

** Computer Games and Digital Cultures Conference ** Call for Papers (2) June 6-8, 2002 Tampere, Finland Note: the new website is now open, see http://www.gamesconference.org Computer Games and Digital Cultures (CGDC) conference is organised by the Hypermedia Laboratory, University of Tampere. It is arranged in co-operation with the University of Turku and the IT University of Copenhagen, the UIAH Medialab, Helsinki, and partners in the digital content industry. The conference continues the series of international game studies conferences opened by Computer Games and Digital Textualities (Copenhagen, March 1-2, 2001). Deadline for proposals January 30, 2002 --- :: --- Overview Computer games have rapidly become a significant and expanding field of entertainment industry and modern culture. The research and development of games has reached an important phase. Various conceptual and theoretical models to understand games and their working are being created, while the games themselves are growing into new dimensions with their online and multiplayer capabilities. The transition into the world of mobile gaming is creating even more challenges and further possibilities. The Computer Games and Digital Cultures conference offers a comprehensive view into the current state of digital games, and their research, as well as forums for interdisciplinary discussion. Conference includes presentations from leading experts, both from the academic research institutions and game industry, including the opening words by Espen Aarseth (University of Bergen), keynote presentations by Greg Costikyan (Unplugged Games, USA), Steven Poole (author of the "Trigger Happy", UK) and designer of games like Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Thief and Deus Ex, Warren Spector (Ionstorm, USA). Agenda Computer games have grown into an increasingly important cultural form, that has a profound impact on the way interactivity, digital aesthetics and online environments are currently understood. The conference will explore the aesthetic as well as narrative and structural issues of computer games, while also functioning as a bridge and intermediary between the academic research and professional gaming community. The approach of conference is interdisciplinary and comprehensive; the analysis of games and the gaming communities will advance the study of interactive media, create fruitful exchange of perspectives with the professional game developers, and further the development of digital culture. Workshops The CGDC has two parts, the first day consisting of workshops that explore the pragmatic and creative issues of games as a form of culture and industry. The participants can register for this day separately, or for the whole three-day conference. The participants may submit proposals for workshops, focusing on creative design processes, dynamics of gameplay in particular game types, or, e.g., issues related to technical implementation or economics of contemporary game projects. Workshops with an academic focus are also invited. The conference venues will have facilities suitable for most digital media production tasks. The first day will also include keynote workshops, to be announced later. In addition, participants are encouraged to offer suggestions for topics for the panel discussions. Research Papers The second and third days are dedicated to the research papers dealing with games. Both specific analyses of games as a form of art and entertainment are welcome, as well as more general approaches dealing with the cultural practices related with games and social activities in online environments. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to: - design and analysis of games, - communication and community in relation to games, - online and mobile gaming. Since the aim of the CGDC is to foster dialogue between the game developer and researcher communities, organisers wish that even the more theoretical papers would include concrete examples or references to games or game-related practices. The paper and workshop proposals should be submitted in the form of abstracts by the end of January 2002. The deadline for full papers is April 8, 2002, and papers will be included in the printed conference publication. There is a half an hour time reserved for presenting each paper in the programme. The Conference Publication The publication including the conference proceedings will be delivered to the participants at the conference. Submission Format The proposal for a research paper should consist of an abstract of at least 1000 words. A short biography of the author should be included. The proposal for a workshop has no fixed format. Rather, innovative topics and creative working practices are encouraged. The workshop proposals should include a description of the topic, goals and methods applied in the workshop. The time available for a workshop process is either three hours (a half-day workshop), or seven hours (a full day workshop). A proposal should state which alternative it is describing. All proposals should be submitted through the online form at the CGDC web site. Further Inquiries: For further information and updates on the conference programme, please consult the conference website: www.gamesconference.org (the old address http://www.uta.fi/cgdc is no longer available). The organising committee can be reached through professor Frans Mäyrä (frans.mayra(a)uta.fi; the conference programme) or conference producer Carolina Pajula (hyperactive(a)uta.fi; the conference arrangements). --- :: ---

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Re: Air-l digest, Vol 1 #240 - 2 msgs
by dca4＠georgetown.edu 16 Dec '01

16 Dec '01

Sandeep: I think it is better to speak of community is terms of social networks as opposed to organizational structures (see Barry Wellman's work). An organization may contain many communities within it that exist for formal and informal reasons. Dorine Andrews Georgetown University ----- Original Message ----- From: air-l-request(a)aoir.org Date: Friday, December 14, 2001 12:01 pm Subject: Air-l digest, Vol 1 #240 - 2 msgs > > > > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Company vs. Community (Sandeep Krishnamurthy) > 2. RE: Statistics on Email Messages Sent in US and > Internationally in 2000 (Cem Timurkan) > > --__--__-- > > Message: 1 > From: "Sandeep Krishnamurthy" <sandeep(a)u.washington.edu> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:17:59 -0800 > Subject: [Air-l] Company vs. Community > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Colleagues, > > I teach an MBA E-Commerce class. In the customary class on online > communities, we started off with a simple question- "What is the > differencebetween a (for-profit)company and a community?" > > This seemingly simple question tied us up into knots as we tried > to identify > attributes that distinguished the two. The ones we did come up with > included contractual vs. voluntary membership, rigid vs. loose > organizational structure, paid vs. unpaid participants etc. I > think you see > where I am going. > > At the end of the discussion, one student(who has a Ph.D in > biology) said- > "Isn't community an all-encompassing construct? Can it not be > argued that a > company is really a type of community?" While I respected his > comments, it > really underscored the need to understand this better. > > I know community is a construct that is backed by decades of > research. I > have seen some of the seminal works- but perhaps, not all. > > How would you answer the basic question I started out with? > > > > Best, > Sandeep > > --- > Visit my Thought > Central-http://faculty.washington.edu/sandeep/blog/blogger.html > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 2 > From: "Cem Timurkan" <timurkan(a)olisys.com> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Subject: RE: [Air-l] Statistics on Email Messages Sent in US and > Internationally in 2000 > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 12:08:32 -0500 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I think I might answer to this question. First of, log on to > www.emarketer.com. Scroll down, and type 'e-mail messages sent' in the > search box. After that, you'll receive 9 documents at the > resulting page. I > think the first two might help. However, those two would likely > focus on the > U.S. Have a nice day. > > Sincerely, > > Cem Timurkan > Information Department > MeZUN.COM, Inc. > 3500 Boston St. Suite 322 > Baltimore, MD 21224 > Phone (USA): +1-410-327-9100 > Fax (USA) : +1-410-327-0909 > ctimurkan(a)mezun.com > The First Turkish-American Portal > www.MeZUN.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: air-l-admin(a)aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin@aoir.org]On Behalf Of > nbaron(a)american.edu > Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 7:26 PM > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: [Air-l] Statistics on Email Messages Sent in US and > Internationally in 2000 > > > > Would anyone have handy statistics (and credible references) on the > approximate number of email messages sent in the US as well as > globally in > 2000? Thanks. > > Naomi Baron > Professor of Linguistics > American University > Washington, DC 20016 > > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinf > > > > > --__--__-- > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinf > > > End of Air-l Digest >

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December 2001 executive committee report
by Steve Jones 15 Dec '01

15 Dec '01

December 15, 2001 Report of the a(o).i.r. executive committee Prepared by Steve Jones AoIR Executive Committee President: Steve Jones Vice-President: Nancy Baym Secretary: Ulla Bunz Treasurer: Benjamin Bates Open Seats: David Silver and Barry Wellman Appointed Seats: Matthew Allen and Leslie Shade Student Seat: Lisbeth Klastrup Publications Officers: Jeremy Hunsinger and Charlie Breindahl 2002 Conference Coordinator: Monica Murero 2002 Conference Program Chair: Klaus Bruhn Jensen Ethics Working Group Chair: Charles Ess 1. Introduction & General (Jones) Below is the monthly report from AoIR executive committee members. 2. Executive Officers' Reports 2.1 President (Jones) 2.1.1 I had planned on using this bit of space to talk about some of the challenges facing AoIR in the near future (none of them bad...just challenging), but let's save that for the new year's first report. Instead, I urge you to take a look at the AoIR 2001 conference report at http://www.infotoday.com/it/dec01/conhaim.htm. It's terrific, independent affirmation, and another tip of the hat to John Logie and Leslie Shade, and all who contributed in some way to the conference. And it's a very favorable note on which to close out the 2001 reports of the executive committee, along with my thanks to all those who have helped, and are helping, AoIR to serve as a meeting place (virtual or otherwise) for those interested in Internet research. May we all have a peaceful, healthy and happy new year. 2.2 Vice President (Baym) 2.2.1 I have been helping the flow of conference organization. There was very little response to my database suggestion posted to air-l, so I am not quite sure where, if anywhere, to go with that. There seemed to be the most expressed interest in at least indexing online archives. If anyone else has thoughts on this or is interested in helping to develop online resources for aoir members, please share your thoughts with me. 2.3 Secretary (Bunz) 2.3.1 I have completed the (non-electronic) AoIR folder that now contains all items required by bylaws, including a membership list, conference programs from previous conferences, all CfP, etc. 2.3.2 Matthew Allen, David Silver, and I are putting the final touches on a project tentatively called Internet Research List of Lists. For more information, please check David's posting. 2.3.3 In addition, I've been using some of my European connections, trying to help Monica Murero and Klaus Bruhn-Jensen to recruit Liikanen as one of our keynote speakers. I have made a few suggestions regarding conference planning and volunteered as a reviewer. 2.4 Treasurer (Bates) 2.4.1 Since the last report, we've had about 10 renewals and 10 new memberships, roughly equally split between US and non-US email addresses. We've also had one chargeback (a payment that did not go through, which we still have to pay a transaction fee on). I'll be sending out the December renewal reminders before I leave for break. Will be mostly out of touch between 18 Dec and 28 Dec. 2.5 Open Seats (Silver, Wellman) 2.5.1 Silver: I've been helping out with the conference committee, working on the (now ready for prime time) CFP. It's been exciting working with Monica Murero and the rest of the committee and this conference promises to raise the bar in Internet research. Matthew Allen, Ulla Bunz, and I are putting the final touches on a project tentatively called Internet Research List of Lists. The purpose of the project is to provide a comprehensive index of mailing lists and online forums. Contributions from all academic or non-academic origins and from all over the world are welcome, as long as the content of the list is devoted to the study of the Internet and new media. We are hoping that this project will be member-generated and plan to release the project in early January. 2.5.2 Wellman: Gave whatever advice I could, volunteered to be on an awards committee, represented AoIR at Kyto Digital Cities conf in October, represented AoIR at Canadian Policy Research Initiatives conference (with Fed. govt) in Ottawa -- so did Leslie! 2.6 Appointed Seats (Allen, Shade) 2.6.1 Allen: In the past few weeks, the main activity was to attend the inaugural ::fibreculture:: conference, including a public debate 'Digital Publics', in Melbourne. At the conference we handed out AoIR information and I wore my interconnections t-shirt *grin*. There was a great buzz of excitement about fibreculture, which will develop I believe into a great network of projects, information, and creative/intellectual production within Australia and beyond. 2.6.2 Shade: Nothing to report. 2.7 Student Seat (Klastrup) 2.7.1 Nothing to report. 2.8 Publications Officers (Hunsinger, Breindahl) 2.8.1 Hunsinger: the usual for this time of year did a little bit of everything and a whole lot of some things mainly conference stuff secondarily exec stuff some list stuff and finally some members support stuff. 2.8.2 Breindahl: Not nada, but then not mucho, either. If that's a double negative, it's a double negative. If that's redundant, so what - it's my research subject. 2.9 2002 Conference (Monica Murero, Coordinator; Klaus Bruhn Jensen, Program Chair) 2.9.1 Murero: During this period many activities have been done to organize 2002 AoIR conference. I have prepared the Action Plan for the months ahead: the activities are proceeding very successfully. The Call for paper was approved and issued. The list of the invited speakers (amazing!)was prepared and approved by the planning committee, and the process of invitation is on its way. People from all over the world have _already_ started to register for next year's conference, form Japan to Finland! 1 year before!!! I am looking forward to meeting you all next year! 2.9.2 Jensen: I have been working with Monica Murero, Jeremy Hunsinger, and other contributors to air-meet in preparing the 2002 call for papers as well as the structures facilitating submission and review. The CFP is out, the submission system and its categories are in place, and a good number of volunteer reviewers are awaiting submissions. Next up is aiding in the review process and stimulating submissions. 2.10 AoIR Ethics Working Group (Charles Ess, Chair) 2.10.1 No report.

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aoir.org
by jeremy hunsinger 15 Dec '01

15 Dec '01

aoir.org will be down for a while today, probably only today. jeremy hunsinger jhuns(a)vt.edu on the ibook www.cddc.vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy www.dromocracy.com

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Statistics on Email Messages Sent in US and Internationally in 2000
by nbaron＠american.edu 13 Dec '01

13 Dec '01

Would anyone have handy statistics (and credible references) on the approximate number of email messages sent in the US as well as globally in 2000? Thanks. Naomi Baron Professor of Linguistics American University Washington, DC 20016

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internet in everyday life
by Barry Wellman 13 Dec '01

13 Dec '01

Another addition to some of the questions originally raised by Kraut et al in the Internet Paradox is the set of 10 papers in "The Internet in Everyday Life," edited by Caroline Haythornthwaite and myself, and published in American Behavioral Scientist, Nov 2001. There's lots of solid meat in there. Barry ___________________________________________________________________ Barry Wellman Professor of Sociology NetLab Director wellman(a)chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 ___________________________________________________________________

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one thousand internet research essays online
by Reinhold Grether 12 Dec '01

12 Dec '01

Peacing out through the holidays you should peruse the by now one thousand online net.science research essays listed on <http://www.netzwissenschaft.de/>. Most of them are out of 2001 and 2000: <http://www.netzwissenschaft.de/sem/pool.htm> <http://www.netzwissenschaft.de/sem/pool1.htm> Best from your virtual research mate Reinhold Grether.

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Re: Globalization and Social Justice (Lauren Langman)
by hans.klein＠pubpolicy.gatech.edu 11 Dec '01

11 Dec '01

Related to this topic, I can offer two relevant references of recent work that I have done or participated in: 1. "Global Democracy and the ICANN Elections" Symposium issue of INFO, Vol. 3, No. 4, August 2001 Klein, Hans, editor linked off of http://www.IP3.gatech.edu 2. "Online Social Movements and Internet Governance" Klein, Hans Peace Review 13:3 (2001), September 2001, 403-410 Hans Klein ================================== Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 16:56:56 -0600 From: "Lauren Langman" <llangma(a)wpo.it.luc.edu> To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> Subject: [Air-l] Globalization and Social Justice Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org At the AIOR meeting, we mentioned to a number of people that next Spring, = at Loyola Univerisity of Chicago we will be having a conference on = Globalization and Social Justice. It is now official, we have the rooms = reserved, May 10-12.=20 This will be a progressive conference, definitely left of center. At the = meeting in addition to the panel on Critical Internet studies in which we = participated, there were a number of folks interested in how the internet = has been used by a number of people for organizing, alternative media etc. = Our interest is how the alternative globalization movements use the web. = We expect that as the dust settles in Afghanistan, and George W meets = Usama BL at the Tora Bora corral, and since this world's not big enough = for both of them, W's B-52s/F-14s/F-16s, Drams and Daisy cutters will = beat Usamas AK 47. Then we can all go back to the contradictions of = globalization. If wish to participate, attend or just want more info, let = us know. Hope to see you all in Chicago=20 Lauren Langman, Doug Morris BTW we prefer Llang944(a)aol.com being(a)enteract.com =========================================================================== Hans K. Klein Assistant Professor Tel: 404-894-2258 School of of Public Policy, MC:0345 Fax: 404-894-0535 Georgia Institute of Technology hans.klein(a)pubpolicy.gatech.edu Atlanta, GA 30332-0345 http://www.spp.gatech.edu/people/faculty/hklein.htm Chair, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) http://www.cpsr.org ===========================================================================

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CFP: Internet Research 3.0 Net / Work / Theory in Maastricht
by jeremy hunsinger 11 Dec '01

11 Dec '01

CALL FOR PAPERS Internet Research 3.0: NET / WORK / THEORY International and Interdisciplinary Conference of the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) International Institute of INFONOMICS and University of Maastricht Maastricht, The Netherlands October 13-16 2002 Conference Website: http://www.aoir.org/2002 Deadline for submissions: February 15, 2002. Submissions: http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/confman/ The Internet has become an integral, ubiquitous part of everyday life in many social domains and international contexts. Yet, most of the public attention on cyberspace remains fueled by utopian or dystopian visions, rather than being informed by the growing body of research on the Internet as a complex fact of modern life. Internet Research (IR) 3.0, an international and interdisciplinary conference, will feature a variety of perspectives on Internet research, in order to develop a better theoretical and pragmatic understanding of the Internet. Building on the previous well-attended international conferences, the IR 3.0 will bring together prominent scholars, researchers, and practitioners from many disciplines, fields and countries for a program of presentations, panel discussions, and informal exchanges. This year's theme is Net/Work/Theory. Contributors are called to reflect on how to theorize what we know about the Internet and on how to apply what we know theoretically in practice. The conference will be held for the first time in Europe, whose intellectual environments have traditionally been a source of social and cultural theory. IR 3.0 will be hosted by the International Institute of Infonomics in the beautiful city of Maastricht in the Netherlands. As the city in which one of the key treaties of the European Union was signed, Maastricht also symbolizes a changing Europe in a changing international setting. The conference will provide opportunities to network, learn from other researchers, hear from leading players in Internet development, and enjoy the "art of fine living" of Maastricht, in the south of the Netherlands. The Association of Internet Researchers invites paper, presentation, and panel proposals from AoIR members and non-members on topics that address social, cultural, political, economic, and aesthetic aspects of the Internet. We welcome interdisciplinary submissions as well as submissions from any discipline. Panel presentations that establish connections across disciplines, institutions, and/or continents are especially encouraged. We also seek presentations that will make creative use of Internet technologies and techniques. SUGGESTED TOPICS: Theoretical and Methodological approaches to Internet Research Internet Access, Use and Effects Psychology and the Internet Individuals, Groups, and Communities Online Privacy, Surveillance, and Security on the Internet Internet Policy, Ethics, Law, and Politics Teaching, Learning and the Internet The Internet in Writing and Publishing Ethnicity, Race, Identity, Gender, and Sexuality Online The Internet in Cultural Contexts The Internet in History Digital Arts and Aesthetics Gaming on the Internet E-commerce, E-Business, or Value of Digital Content New Technologies and New Media E-Sectors (e-health, e-games, e-entertainment, e-other...) This list is not meant to be exclusive, but to trigger ideas and encourage submissions from a range of disciplines. The organizers will take an active role in generating and joining the various interests in appropriate formats FORMAT OF PROPOSALS Proposals can be of three types - papers, presentations, and panels. Each person is entitled to submit 1 paper, 1 presentation, and/or 1 panel proposal. PAPERS Proposals for papers: 150-250 word abstract. CREATIVE PRESENTATIONS/DEMONSTRATIONS Creative presentations (surprise us!) and Internet-related project demonstrations (including digital arts) are encouraged. The format for these proposals is the same as those for regular papers (150-250 word abstract). PANELS Panels will generally include three to four papers or presentations. The session organizer should submit a 250-500 word statement describing the session topic, include abstracts of up to 250 words for each paper or presentation, and indicate that each author is willing to participate in the session. WORKSHOP We also invite proposals for pre-conference workshop. These proposals should be submitted as soon as possible (no later than January 15, 2002) so that the workshops can be publicized. GRADUATE STUDENTS Graduate students are highly encouraged to submit proposals. They should note their student status with submission for consideration of a special Student Award. If you intend to be a candidate for the Student Award you must also send a final version of your proposal (final paper) by 15th September 2002. FORMAT OF SUBMISSIONS Submission will be accepted from 15th December until 15th February 2002. All proposals should be submitted electronically at: http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/confman/ It is preferred that you use HTML to minimally format your paper. Average time allotted for a paper or presentation will be 15 minutes. Average time allotted for a panel will be 1 hour and 30 minutes, including discussion time. If these time constraints are not appropriate for your panel/presentation, please include that in your abstract. Please include any equipment or special considerations that might affect your presentation. DEADLINES Proposal submission: 15th December, 2001- February 15, 2002 Author notification: April 1, 2002 Presenter's Registration to the conference: September 15, 2002 Student Award: Final paper due September 15, 2002 CONTACT INFORMATION If you have questions about the conference, program, or AoIR, please contact: Conference Coordinator: Monica Murero, Infonomics and University of Maastricht, Monica.Murero(a)infonomics.nl Program Chair: Klaus Bruhn Jensen, University of Copenhagen: kbj(a)hum.ku.dk A(o)IR President: Steve Jones, sjones(a)uic.edu More Information about IR 3.0 can be found on the Conference Website: http://www.aoir.org/2002 For more information about the Association of Internet Researchers, including information on joining the Association, visit AoIR' s website at http://aoir.org For more information about the International Institute of Infonomics visit our website at http://www.infonomics.nl -- jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy cddc/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu 526 major williams hall 0130 http://www.dromocracy.com virginia tech -under construction blacksburg, va 24061 540-231-7614

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