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

Science magazine article
by Barry Wellman 18 Feb '02

18 Feb '02

Folks, I'm delighted to alert folks to a review article I wrote in Science, reviewing work about computer networks as social networks. In addition to arguing that computer networks are social networks, it substantively focuses on how the Internet fits into everyday (nonwork) life and computer-mediated tools for knowledge acquisition and management in networked organizations. You can access this article via my website. The URL is below, just click on Publications. While you're there, feel free to sightsee some of my other recent, relevant stuff. Cheers, 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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AoIR 2001 Conference in Minnesota
by Steve Jones 15 Oct '01

15 Oct '01

Fellow members of the Association of Internet Researchers and air-l subscribers: These are trying times, to greatly understate things. We will all struggle in one way or another to re-imagine the world now that everything has changed. The attacks in the U.S. this week were in part directed squarely at the U.S., But they were also directed in part at the world. The destruction of the World Trade Center towers killed and hurt many people from all walks of life, from all beliefs, races, countries. AoIR is an international organization, and each of us feels some sense of loss. Our thoughts go out particularly to those who have lost friends, family and acquaintances. We have been asked by several people whether the 2001 conference in Minneapolis will be cancelled. The executive committee, the conference organizers at the University of Minnesota and I have decided that the conference will not be cancelled. None of us associated with AoIR will ask anyone to do something with which they are uncomfortable. Were I to have to fly within the next week I would certainly think twice, although I think I would go ahead with it. I would be apprehensive about it, and will be for quite some time, and I will not be very happy at the prospect, and I will be ever so glad to land. However, the alternative is to cease travelling by air and therefore cease meeting indefinitely (except online, of course, or at short distances), and to lose all confidence in the variety of human systems on which the world is, and must, be based. I do not choose that alternative. Your choice, however, should, and will be, respected. We will, of course, keep abreast of events. Do not hesitate to e-mail me at sjones(a)uic.edu with any questions and concerns. I will look forward to seeing some of you in Minneapolis, and others of you at other places and times in the future. Steve Jones, President of the Association of Internet Researchers

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Re: Air-l digest, Vol 1 #167 - 10 msgs
by Ronald E. Rice 14 Oct '01

14 Oct '01

Thanks to the Air-I digest, I know have a person to share a hotel room with for the Air conference. So, no need to contact me about this any more. Thanks! ============================================================ Ronald E. Rice Professor, Chair of Department of Communication School of Communication, Information & Library Studies Rutgers University 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071 w: 732-932-7500, ext 8122; f: 732-932-6916; e: rrice(a)scils.rutgers.edu home page: http://scils.rutgers.edu/~rrice ============================================================ ----- Original Message ----- From: <air-l-request(a)aoir.org> To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 12:01 PM Subject: Air-l digest, Vol 1 #167 - 10 msgs > > > > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. looking to share hotel room at AoIR conference (Ronald E. Rice) > 2. network analysis (Ronald E. Rice) > 3. RE: Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room (Logie) > 4. Re: Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room (jeremy hunsinger) > 5. RE: Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room (Dean Rehberger) > 6. visualizing weblinks (Frank Schaap) > 7. Religious Encounters in Digital Networks (Morten Thomsen Hojsgaard) > 8. 10 MORE ROOMS at the RADISSON for IR 2.0 (Logie) > 9. Re: visualizing weblinks (Steve Jones) > 10. Re: visualizing weblinks (Zunt(a)aol.com) > > --__--__-- > > Message: 1 > From: "Ronald E. Rice" <rrice(a)scils.rutgers.edu> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 12:44:03 -0400 > Subject: [Air-l] looking to share hotel room at AoIR conference > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I too would like to find a roommate (nonsmoking male) for the conference. I > already have a reservation at the conference hotel. I posted this on the > AoIR web page for such things, but got no responses. Possibly this will > work better. Possibly this will only help people to better avoid > interacting with me! > > ============================================================ > Ronald E. Rice > Professor, Chair of Department of Communication > School of Communication, Information & Library Studies > Rutgers University > 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071 > w: 732-932-7500, ext. 8122; f: 732-932-6916 > e: rrice(a)scils.rutgers.edu; http://scils.rutgers.edu/~rrice > ============================================================ > > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 2 > From: "Ronald E. Rice" <rrice(a)scils.rutgers.edu> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 12:45:06 -0400 > Subject: [Air-l] network analysis > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I will be attending the AoIR conference, and have plenty of experience using > and teaching network analysis. I'd be happy to have an informal discussion > about network programs, measures and applications, perhaps over lunch or > something. > > ============================================================ > Ronald E. Rice > Professor, Chair of Department of Communication > School of Communication, Information & Library Studies > Rutgers University > 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071 > w: 732-932-7500, ext. 8122; f: 732-932-6916 > e: rrice(a)scils.rutgers.edu; http://scils.rutgers.edu/~rrice > ============================================================ > > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 3 > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 12:23:28 -0500 > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > From: Logie <logie(a)tc.umn.edu> > Subject: RE: [Air-l] Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > >It seems the Radisson Hotel Metrodome is chock full. The site does not list > >other hotels that would work in area--does anyone know what might be good > >and/or close? > > > Hi - > > John Logie, your Conference Coordinator here. Suffice it to say > demand for hotel rooms is very strong in the Twin Cities, as we > happen to be up against the University of Minnesota Football Team's > homecoming weekend. (Of course, given a few more Gopher losses, the > current demand may yet evaporate.) We booked a LOT of rooms at the > Radisson -- enough that we were nervous about meeting our obligation > -- but now find there are more bodies than rooms. > > We'll be working on posting (at least) advice for those now seeking > lodging to the local info pages, but I would like to ask that those > who HAVE Radisson rooms and would be amenable to sharing them please > proceed to the roommate finder (http://aoir.org/2001/roomate/ ) and > make their willingness to share known. If half the people now booked > for single occupancy were to do this, our housing concern would > likely be eliminated. > > This conference's theme in INTERconnections. Please consider making a > connection by sharing a room with a colleague. > > Failing that, my short-term recommendation, which I'm circulating to > this list (so that AoIR members will have an opportunity to pounce) > is the Holiday Inn Metrodome which is 9/10 of a mile away from the > conference site. > > As of noon today (Thursday) there was still some availability, though > it will be more expensive than the Radisson. You can check out > prices, etc, by proceeding to > http://www.sixcontinentshotels.com/holiday-inn?_template=chkavail.html&_innC ode=MSPMD > or by navigating your way through the Holiday Inn site. > > Good luck! > > Best, > > John Logie > Conference Coordinator > Internet Research 2.0 > Department of Rhetoric > University of Minnesota > > > > > > > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 13:30:47 -0400 > From: jeremy hunsinger <jhuns(a)vt.edu> > Organization: Virginia Tech > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: Re: [Air-l] Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Logie wrote: > > >> It seems the Radisson Hotel Metrodome is chock full. The site does > >> not list > >> other hotels that would work in area--does anyone know what might be > >> good > >> and/or close? > > > Len had some problems with this last week, it turned out that if he > didn't match the dates to the conference they told him that there were > no rooms, but when he went from the 10th -14th they said they had rooms. > I'm not sure that this will work anymore, but it worked once. > > > -- > Jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy > CDDC/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu > 526 major williams hall 0130 > virginia tech > blacksburg, va 24061 > 540-231-7614 > > > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 5 > From: "Dean Rehberger" <rehberger(a)mail.matrix.msu.edu> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Subject: RE: [Air-l] Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 22:20:27 -0400 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Hi all > > A bit of online value. I called the Holiday Inn Metrodome and found that > rooms were 169. I went online through their priority club and made an > online reservation for 50$ less. > > Dean Rehberger > Associate Director of Matrix > Associate Professor > Michigan State University > 310 Auditorium > East Lansing, MI 48824-1120 > rehberger(a)mail.matrix.msu.edu > matrix.msu.edu/rehberger > wk: (517) 355-9300 > fax: (517) 355-8363 > hm: (517) 347-7372 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: air-l-admin(a)aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin@aoir.org]On Behalf Of > Logie > Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 1:23 PM > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: RE: [Air-l] Conference Hotel - please consider sharing a room > > > >It seems the Radisson Hotel Metrodome is chock full. The site does not > list > >other hotels that would work in area--does anyone know what might be good > >and/or close? > > > Hi - > > John Logie, your Conference Coordinator here. Suffice it to say > demand for hotel rooms is very strong in the Twin Cities, as we > happen to be up against the University of Minnesota Football Team's > homecoming weekend. (Of course, given a few more Gopher losses, the > current demand may yet evaporate.) We booked a LOT of rooms at the > Radisson -- enough that we were nervous about meeting our obligation > -- but now find there are more bodies than rooms. > > We'll be working on posting (at least) advice for those now seeking > lodging to the local info pages, but I would like to ask that those > who HAVE Radisson rooms and would be amenable to sharing them please > proceed to the roommate finder (http://aoir.org/2001/roomate/ ) and > make their willingness to share known. If half the people now booked > for single occupancy were to do this, our housing concern would > likely be eliminated. > > This conference's theme in INTERconnections. Please consider making a > connection by sharing a room with a colleague. > > Failing that, my short-term recommendation, which I'm circulating to > this list (so that AoIR members will have an opportunity to pounce) > is the Holiday Inn Metrodome which is 9/10 of a mile away from the > conference site. > > As of noon today (Thursday) there was still some availability, though > it will be more expensive than the Radisson. You can check out > prices, etc, by proceeding to > http://www.sixcontinentshotels.com/holiday-inn?_template=chkavail.html&_innC > ode=MSPMD > or by navigating your way through the Holiday Inn site. > > Good luck! > > Best, > > John Logie > Conference Coordinator > Internet Research 2.0 > Department of Rhetoric > University of Minnesota > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 6 > Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 08:13:00 +0200 > From: Frank Schaap <architext(a)fragment.nl> > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: [Air-l] visualizing weblinks > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Hi all, > > this question probably has been asked and answered before in this forum, but > my search skills fail me and I can't seem to find the right answer to my > question: > > I'm looking for software that will let me visualize weblinks going out (and in > again preferably) of a certain website. > > I imagine there must be a program that accepts an URL and a certain number of > hops, that then will create (for instance) a little network with nodes and > links, so that you can _see_ which nodes are highly connected, which ones are > 'dead ends,' etc. > > Preferably this program would be freeware and immediately downloadable (I've > seen some commercial and not quite what I need programs on the Cybergeography > site), but all tips and pointers are welcome. > > tia :) > > > Frank. > > -- > The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources > ==> http://fragment.nl/resources/ > > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 7 > From: "Morten Thomsen Hojsgaard" <hojs(a)hum.ku.dk> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:30:00 +0200 > Subject: [Air-l] Religious Encounters in Digital Networks > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > RELIGIOUS ENCOUNTERS IN DIGITAL NETWORKS > Religion and Computer-Mediated Communication > > Conference > 1-3 November > University of Copenhagen, Denmark > > Scope > The emergence of the Internet has provided > a new context for interaction between > religious groupings and individuals in > modern society. Religious encounters can > now take place in digital settings that > apparently transcend a number of conventional > boundaries such as organisational structures, > time zones, geographic borders, religious > traditions, and cultural divisions. This > Conference seeks a deeper understanding of > this expanding field of religious > communication on the Internet. > > Keynote Speakers > -Lorne L. Dawson, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo > -Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director, CESNUR, Torino > -Stephen D. O'Leary, Associate Professor, University of Southern California > > Programme > The Conference programme is available online at > http://www.staff.hum.ku.dk/hojs/encounters/programme.html > > Registration > The deadline for registration is 19 October 2001. > An online registration form is available at > http://www.staff.hum.ku.dk/hojs/encounters/registration.html > > Further Information > See, http://www.staff.hum.ku.dk/hojs/encounters > > Organizing Committee > Margit Warburg, Head of Department, Associate Professor > Morten Thomsen Højsgaard, Ph.D. Student > Department of History of Religions > University of Copenhagen > Artillerivej 86 > DK-2300 Copenhagen S > Denmark > Phone: (+45) 35 32 89 66 > Fax: (45) 35 32 89 56 > E-mail: encounters(a)dk2net.dk > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 8 > Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 05:54:51 -0500 > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > From: Logie <john(a)logie.net> > Subject: [Air-l] 10 MORE ROOMS at the RADISSON for IR 2.0 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Hello all, > > I made a call and got the Radisson Hotel Metrodome to open up 10 more > rooms for conference presenters/attendees, but you can NOT get these > rooms through the online registration system. These rooms are being > made available through the local hotel's reservation desk only. All > other avenues will likely report that the hotel is sold out. > > So, if you want to stay in the Radisson from AT LEAST the evening of > October 10 (Wednesday), departing on the 14th (Sunday) or later, > please CALL 612-379-8888 and make a reservation specifying that it is > for the Association of Internet Researchers Conference (in order to > secure our discounted rate). > > This is, effectively, "last call" for rooms at the Radisson. Those > interested in alternative accommodation can use a service like > http://www.travelocity.com which has an "Advanced Search" function > for lodgings which allows visitors to input a particular address and > identify options within a certain radius. The Radisson's address is: > 615 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis Minnesota 55414, and it is > nearly adjacent to the Gateway/MacNamara Alumni Center, where most of > the conference sessions will be held, so I recommend using the > hotel's address address as a "home base" for such searches. > > You'll see that the pickings in the immediate vicinity are getting pretty slim. > > To avoid disappointment, please book expeditiously. > > Best, > > > > -- > John Logie > Internet Research 2.0 Conference Coordinator > Department of Rhetoric > University of Minnesota > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 9 > Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 08:09:58 -0500 > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > From: Steve Jones <sjones(a)uic.edu> > Subject: Re: [Air-l] visualizing weblinks > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I've collected these bits from previous e-mails (from Martin Dodge > and Richard Rogers): > > Internet Cartographer http://www.inventix.com/ > > Astra SiteManager > http://tryandbuy.mercuryinteractive.com/cgi-bin/portal/trynbuy/asm.jsp?prod= 8023 > > Site Manager http://www.sgi.com/software/sitemgr.html > > http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/web_sites.html > http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/surf.html > > R Rogers, ed., 2000, Preferred Placement - Knowledge Politics on the Web, > Maastricht: Jan van Eyck. (Martin Dodge has a piece in this as well.) > > R Rogers and N Marres, "Landscaping Climate Change: A mapping technique for > understanding science and technology debates on the World Wide Web," Public > Understanding of Science, April 2000, http://www.iop.org/Journals/pu > > I'd also recommend I/O/D's Web Stalker at http://www.backspace.org/iod/ > > I hope that helps. > > sj > > >Hi all, > > > >this question probably has been asked and answered before in this forum, but > >my search skills fail me and I can't seem to find the right answer to my > >question: > > > >I'm looking for software that will let me visualize weblinks going out (and in > >again preferably) of a certain website. > > > >I imagine there must be a program that accepts an URL and a certain number of > >hops, that then will create (for instance) a little network with nodes and > >links, so that you can _see_ which nodes are highly connected, which ones are > >'dead ends,' etc. > > > >Preferably this program would be freeware and immediately downloadable (I've > >seen some commercial and not quite what I need programs on the Cybergeography > >site), but all tips and pointers are welcome. > > > >tia :) > > > > > >Frank. > > > >-- > >The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources > >==> http://fragment.nl/resources/ > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Air-l mailing list > >Air-l(a)aoir.org > >http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > > > --__--__-- > > Message: 10 > From: Zunt(a)aol.com > Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 10:58:38 EDT > Subject: Re: [Air-l] visualizing weblinks > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > In a message dated 9/28/2001 9:15:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time, sjones(a)uic.edu > writes, in part: > > > Site Manager http://www.sgi.com/software/sitemgr.html > > If I understand Frank's question, what he is looking for is software that > does this (lifted from the above page): > > "Visualize your Web site in 3D--Site Manager offers a unique and powerful > visualization tool in the Link View. Here, you can see the entire hyperlink > structure of your Web site in a three-dimensional sphere. You can easily > rotate the sphere's structure and "zoom in" on a point of interest to more > closely examine a specific document's link hierarchy and still see how this > "close-up" fits into the entire Web site. The Link View can also animate the > statistics from your access logs so you can see a graphical representation of > visitors' paths through a site. " > > BUT, rather than do that looking at one's own site, the idea is to do that > while looking at someone else's site from afar. Frank, do speak up if I've > misunderstod. Sounds to me as though one would have to have a spider > function of some sort built into the browser. If such a critter exists, I'd > also like to know about it. > > Cheers, > > Bob Briggs > Westport, MA > > > > --__--__-- > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > > End of Air-l Digest >

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metaphors we live by
by Frank Schaap 02 Oct '01

02 Oct '01

I was hoping that someone could point me to some critiques of Lakoff and Johnson's book/theory 'Metaphors we live by' (1980, U of Chicago Press). tia :) Frank. -- The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources ==> http://fragment.nl/resources/

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Re: [Air-l] visualizing weblinks
by Frank Schaap 30 Sep '01

30 Sep '01

In a quick reply to Steve and Sean's helpful hints and Bob's question: An MA student I'm helping is researching feminist websites. As part of her methodology she has operationalized the number of links on a website connecting to other sites of the network she's identified. I figured it would be helpful to be able to visualize the links between various websites, as she's found that some websites link a lot and get linked to a lot, some less and others get linked to and don't link out (etc.). That way a more substantial conclusion could (probably) be gotten from linking the content based analysis of the sites to the more technical aspects of the sites. So, what the program should do in this case, is not to map the whole of _one_ site, but the links out (and preferably in again) of one site and its more or less immediate neighbors in the network. That's why I said the program would need to accept an URL (since it's other people's sites she's researching) and a number of hops (from that URL to its neighbors and hopefully back again too) so that the 'relative' location and connectedness of this site could be examined. The program would thus, as Bob suggests, need a spider/crawler function. BTW, hints on related literature would be appreciated :) A few quick comments on the programs: > Internet Cartographer http://www.inventix.com/ Interesting, but works with your browser history, creating a visualization of links between the sites you've visited. I haven't tried it out, but it appears not to have an auto-crawler function. > Astra SiteManager > http://tryandbuy.mercuryinteractive.com/cgi-bin/portal/trynbuy/asm.jsp?pro > d=8023 Strange. This URL several times didn't work, telling me my session had timed out, but just now it opened without a hitch. This Astra Sitemanager again seems to be geared towards examining one's own website, not 'researching' someone elses. > Site Manager http://www.sgi.com/software/sitemgr.html Looks interesting, but seems geared toward one's own website, besides, I don't have a box running Irix 6.2. > http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/web_sites.html Somehow I missed that page in the first round I trawled through Cybergeography's pages... There's an interesting program there, called WebTracer, but it's really nasty trying to run it... I guess it's not called Beta for naught. If you want to give it a try, save all your work, close all other programs. For me, it wouldn't run with the 3D device set to D3D HAL (I _do_ have DirectX 7 installed), but it ran when I set it to RGB emulation. Even with the maximum number of pages set to 100, it'll need some time to run... The program will 'eat your mouse pointer', meaning that while it runs, you can't move the mouse pointer out of its window. The only way to regain control over your computer is to either click on the "Show Page" button in the screen, which will bring up your browser and positions your mouse pointer in it, which allows you to move to the close-button of the screen and kill the program (it unceremoniously dies with an application error). Or you use ctrl+alt+del to bring up the taskmanager (providing you're running NT/2000/XP) and using the keyboard you kill the process. With these precautions, it's a pretty nifty thing to see it put itself through its paces. > http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/surf.html Again, these programs don't do what WebTracer and Web Stalker do, they rather run on the stuff you have in your Favorites/Bookmarks. > I'd also recommend I/O/D's Web Stalker at http://www.backspace.org/iod/ This one's pretty cool as well, runs just fine, but besides generating a (quickly becoming cluttered) image, it doesn't seem to do much else. No zooming in or repositioning your point of view in order to examine a certain set of links/sites. > R Rogers, ed., 2000, Preferred Placement - Knowledge Politics on the Web, > Maastricht: Jan van Eyck. (Martin Dodge has a piece in this as well.) > R Rogers and N Marres, "Landscaping Climate Change: A mapping technique > for > understanding science and technology debates on the World Wide Web," > Public > Understanding of Science, April 2000, http://www.iop.org/Journals/pu I'll pass it on :) > I hope that helps. I hope so too :) Cheers, Frank. -- The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources ==> http://fragment.nl/resources/

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Two important books on Web design: Content Critical, Web Content Style Guide
by Ken Friedman 30 Sep '01

30 Sep '01

Dear Colleagues, I want to recommend two new books for whoever is active in designing Web sites and intranet. They are being published this month by the Financial Times. They are Content Critical and the Web Content Style Guide The authors are experts in Web design and communication. One author, Rob Norton, is former executive editor of Fortune Magazine, one of the world's largest and best known business magazines. The other is Gerry McGovern, one of Ireland's leading experts in Web design and interactive media. To learn more about Content Critical, go to: http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/content_critical.htm To learn more about Web Content Style Guide, go to http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/web_content_style_guide.htm I will print selected advance information on these books below. Our universities, schools and departments are spending -- and wasting -- millions of dollars, pounds, kroner, lira, markka, etc., on Web sites that do not work. Far too many organizations mount Web sites loaded with special effects and fancy images, without attending to accessible information, ease of use, or good navigation. Many organizations mount Web sites that must be repeatedly redesigned. If we can develop and retain key knowledge on basic issues, the future investments we make will become a long-term gain. Content Critical is an important place to start in developing better Web sites. I will send a note on the Web Content Style Guide in the next post. I will be reviewing both these books in the December issue of Design Research News. The reason I recommend these books before reading them completely is simple. I've seen a lot of what will be printed in the newsletters of Gerry McGovern and Rob Norton. Their newsletters are a valuable resource, and I've been looking forward to these books. Knowing the quality of Gerry's thinking and Rob's, I'm already recommending these books to different lists. I view this as a public service. Much of our work today world is connected with the Web. Making a better Web means building a better world. If you visit the Web site noted here, you will also have a chance to subscribe to a new elist focusing on these issues. I have been active in Internet research and information design issues since the early 1990s. I view the publication of these books as an important step in bringing the Web to its fullest potential. In December, I will publish my evaluation of these books. In the meantime, you can learn more about them at no cost by visiting the pages listed here. If you want my personal advice, I'd say these books are worth the risk of an advance order. Best regards, Ken Friedman, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Leadership and Strategic Design Department of Technology and Knowledge Management Norwegian School of Management Visiting Professor Advanced Research Institute School of Art and Design Staffordshire University (1) Content Critical http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/content_critical.htm Content Critical Authors: Gerry McGovern, Rob Norton Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall Publication Date: October 2001 Content Critical will change the way you think about the World Wide Web. It is built upon a simple but profound insight: The Web is a medium for publishing content. The Internet was invented as a communications medium and the Web was invented as a publishing solution for content. If part of your job involves writing original content, whether that be a technical paper for a product, or a marketing pitch for that product, you're part of a publishing process. If you find that you're spending increasing time reading in order to help you do your job better, you're directly affected by publishing. The modern world runs on content. We're either publishers or consumers of it. Mostly, we're both. Think of your website as a publication and it all begins to make a lot of sense. Think of the person who visits your website as a reader and your objectives become clearer. Because the Web is not all that different from all those other communication tools: print, phone, fax. Yes, there are differences. Yes, Web publishing has different dynamics and rules than, say, print publishing. But the core objective is still the same: to communicate with other people. Content Critical explains both the theory and practice of the Web as a publishing medium, drawing from the best and most applicable offline publishing practices, and from the best practices of web publishing today. It provides in-depth information about reader and website analysis, cost-benefit models, and content creation, editing and publishing processes. It includes highly detailed, practical advice about what it takes to build a professional, content-oriented website, including classification, navigation, search and content layout. It will show you how to organize your publishing team and how to create a Web publishing strategy. If you work for an organization and part of your job is to write for that organization you should read this book. If part of your job is to edit the written work of others and then publish that work on an intranet or Internet website, then you should read this book. If your job is to help your organization create, edit and publish Web content more efficiently, then you should read this book. If you do any of the above you're involved in publishing whether you know it or not, and Content Critical will help you do your job more effectively. Content Critical: Table of contents Chapter 1: Everything you know about publishing is wrong Chapter 2: The benefits and costs of content Chapter 3: The reader is king Chapter 4: The need for content standards Chapter 5: Creating content Chapter 6: Editing Content Chapter 7: The four pillars of information architecture Chapter 8: Navigation critical Chapter 9: Content layout and design Chapter 10: Special topics in web publishing Chapter 11: The publishing team Chapter 12: Five stage publishing strategy approach (2) Web Content Style Guide http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/web_content_style_guide.htm The Web Content Style Guide Authors: Gerry McGovern, Rob Norton, Catherine O'Dowd Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall Publication Date: October 2001 Good writing is the exception rather than the rule on the Web. One reason for this is simply that good writing is hard to do. Another is that many of the people who've been involved with the Web from the beginning have been slow to realize that writing is a very big part of what the online experience is about. While the Web has important non-textual uses, most people who use it spend an overwhelming amount of their online time reading words on a page. It's not an accident that we call them webpages. It follows that quality content-well written, well edited-is essential for the success of any website. In addition to quality content, the design of websites must facilitate finding and reading that content. Web design is about content design. It's about laying out content so that it can be easily read. It's about organizing content so that it can be easily navigated and searched. The number-one design principle for the Web is simplicity. Quality web design should be all about making life easier for the reader to find content, and then making it easy for them to read that content. The Web Content Style Guide aims to codify the rules and standards that make for effective web writing. It also aims to give nontechnical guidance to all those involved in designing and running a website, from the chief executive officer to the junior writer. It examines topics from accessibility to animations, from fonts to forms, from information architecture to intranets, from navigation to newsgroups, from search to style guides. Every entry is written from the perspective that a website must get the right content to the reader as quickly as possible, in the most readable manner. The fonts entry, for example, discusses the font sizes and types that work best onscreen. The Web Content Style Guide covers some of the same ground as the offline style and usage guides, but is tailored specifically for online managers, writers, and editors. Grammar and style issues of particular relevance to the Web that it focuses on include: the key differences between American and British English; how the Web accentuates plagiarism; what sort of dash looks best onscreen; the difference between data, content, information, and knowledge; and when and how to date documents. If you are involved in a website, whether as a manager, designer, writer, or editor, The Web Content Style Guide is essential for you. It is packed with examples, and is written in a clear, concise, and friendly manner. Based on the authors' 40-plus collective years experience in traditional publishing, and 15 in designing content-rich websites, it is always practical. It champions best-practices in web content writing and design, and is not afraid to kill off a few Internet myths along the way.

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Care with reply function, please !
by Ken Friedman 29 Sep '01

29 Sep '01

Dear Friends, Please be careful with the reply function. When you reply to AIR-L from Digest, you send the ENTIRE edition out once again to the entire list. If you selectively cut and paste the item to which you reply, the results are far better. Thanks. Ken Friedman

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An apology
by Michel J. Menou 29 Sep '01

29 Sep '01

Dear colleagues, I was on duty travel with connectivity problems when I received and accepted Nancy Baim's nomination to run for an Open seat. Since I could only send mail from hotmail I could not access the list. Thus the short statement I prepared could not circulate through it, as was the case for most candidates. Hopefully no one considered that I thought no introduction or explanation was owed on my part. I am sorry anyway. We live in an era where IT makes everything possible, except the necessary :-) I'm not less sorry to miss the AoIR 2 conference since I am in another meeting in Bonn Germany, for an on-going research project. Sincerely Michel Menou **==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==** Dr. Michel J. Menou Professor of Information Policy Department of Information Science School of Informatics City University Northampton Square London EC1 0HB, U.K. Mail to: Michel.Menou(a)wanadoo.fr menou(a)soi.city.ac.uk http://www.soi.city.ac.uk/informatics/is/mjm.html

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job announcement
by Ronald E. Rice 29 Sep '01

29 Sep '01

Rutgers University Department of Communication Mediated Communication Position Position Description: The Department of Communication at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey invites applications for an assistant or senior professor position in Mediated Communication. This area does not include traditional mass communication and broadcast or print media, but considers the social contexts and consequences of new media such as wireless communication and the Internet. The department consists of 20 faculty members who supervise research and teach in an undergraduate degree in Communication, a Master’s in Communication and Information Studies, and a Ph.D. in Communication, Information and Library Studies. The department situates its core theoretical and research interests in three areas: social interaction, organizational communication, and mediated communication. Three major initiatives lie at the intersection of these areas: the Communication and Health Issues Partnership for Education and Research, a Center for Organizational Development and Leadership, and a Forum for New Media Research. For more information, visit http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/comm. Qualifications: Completed Ph.D. in Communication or related social science discipline, evidence of teaching excellence, and a research program that includes scholarly publications and conference presentations. Preference will be given to candidates demonstrating strong methodological skills (qualitative and/or quantitative) and potential for quality graduate teaching. Salary is competitive and commensurate with rank and qualifications. Application Deadline: December 1, 2001 or until position is filled. Application Procedure: Please send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation to: Dr. Lea Stewart, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Communication, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071. [Dr. Ronald E. Rice, Chair of the Department, will be attending and presenting at the Air Conference, and would welcome informal interviews.] Special Note: For incoming doctoral students, the Department invites applications by February 1, 2002 for teaching assistantships and leadership fellowships. These will include full tuition remission, a generous stipend and medical benefits. For more information, visit http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/phd or contact Jenny Mandelbaum, Communication Area Coordinator, at jennym(a)scils.rutgers.edu. In addition, the MCIS program seeks applications for January 2002 admission with several JOHNSON & JOHNSON/MCIS FELLOWSHIPS available to qualified applicants. For more information, visit http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/mcis.

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new reviews in cyberculture (october 2001)
by D. Silver 28 Sep '01

28 Sep '01

AIR'ers, If anyone is interested in reviewing books for the Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies, please email or, better yet, find me at AIR 2.0 and let's talk. Cheers, david *** feel free to distribute *** New Book Reviews in Cyberculture Studies (October 2001) Each month, the Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies (RCCS) <www.com.washington.edu/rccs> publishes two or three full-length book reviews. The reviews reflect a modest attempt to locate critically various contours of the emerging and interdisciplinary field of cyberculture studies. RCCS's book reviews section now includes full-length reviews of over 100 books on cyberculture, the Internet, and technoculture. New reviews for October 2001 (found at www.com.washington.edu/rccs/books/) include: Antonio Caronia, Il Cyborg: Saggio Sull'uomo Artificiale. ShaKe Edizioni, 2001. Reviewed by Antonio A. Casilli (Translated from French by Steve Corcoran). Lynn Cherny, Conversation and Community: Chat in a Virtual World. CSLI Publications, 1999. Reviewed by Art Jipson. Kevin Robins and Frank Webster, Times of the Technoculture: From the Information Society to the Virtual Life. Routledge, 1999. Reviewed by Heidi Brush. If you or your colleagues are interested in reviewing books for RCCS, contact us directly at <dsilver(a)u.washington.edu>. As always, please feel free to forward this message. david silver http://faculty.washington.edu/dsilver To SUBSCRIBE to cyberculture-announce, a low volume announcement list for RCCS events and updates, email: listproc(a)u.washington.edu; No subject is needed. In the body, type: subscribe cyberculture-announce

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