October 2003 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Neil Postman
by Steve Jones 06 Oct '03

06 Oct '03

It is with deep sadness that I inform the list of the death of Neil Postman. Professor of Culture and Communication at New York University, Postman was a leading figure in media ecology and has greatly influenced many media scholars across many disciplines. I am sure that innumerable newspapers and journals will carry well written obituaries and that I cannot hold a candle to those, so I hope that it will suffice to say that I mourn his passing and send my condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, correspondents and readers. Sj

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Communication Technologies Position Announcement
by James Watt 06 Oct '03

06 Oct '03

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, rank open, senior applications strongly encouraged. The Department of Language Literature and Communication is seeking a tenured or tenure-track faculty member with outstanding scholarship in one of the following areas: Technologically Mediated Group or Organizational Communication; Media Studies, New Media, and Visual Information; or Organizational Information Systems. Ability to establish or continue a program of funded research is very important. Additional expertise in one or more of the following is a plus: persuasion theory and processes; E-business, including advertising and public relations; film; television; cyberspace; or social and economic policy as it applies to communication technologies. The successful candidate will join a faculty that is currently conducting state-of-the-art research in Human-Computer Interaction, digital document design, technologically-mediated rhetoric, composition and technical communication, and media studies at one of America's most wired technological institutions, ranked among the top 50 U.S. universities. Appointment as an associate of the new Rensselaer Social and Behavioral Research Laboratory is available, as is the possibility of involvement in the undergraduate programs in Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication, or Web Design and Analysis. RPI is located within easy driving distance of New York City, Boston, and Montreal, in the Hudson River Valley, a region of the northeast known for its quality of life. Appointment begins August 15, 2004. Review of applications will begin October 15, 2003 and will continue until suitable candidates are identified. Application letter, current c.v., writing samples and three letters of recommendation should be sent to: James Watt, Search Committee Chair Department of Language, Literature, and Communication Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street Troy, NY 12180 Email: wattj(a)rpi.edu Voice: (518) 276-2784 Fax: (518) 276- 4092

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CFP: TIS issue on Internet Research
by Nancy Baym 06 Oct '03

06 Oct '03

Please distribute widely! CALL FOR PAPERS The Information Society (TIS) special issue on ICT RESEARCH AND DISCIPLINARY BOUNDARIES: IS "INTERNET RESEARCH" A VIRTUAL FIELD, A PROTO-DISCIPLINE, OR SOMETHING ELSE? Edited by Nancy Baym, University of Kansas Issues raised by information and communications technologies (ICTs) transcend disciplinary boundaries. Ever since the beginning of ICT research, scholars have sought to carve out spaces within the discipline-bound institutional structures where streams of thoughts of different hues co-mingle more freely. The early efforts in the 1960s and 1970s focused on the creation of interdisciplinary research centers and programs and journals such as Telecommunications Policy and The Information Society. In the 1980s and 1990s, we saw the rise of schools of information, information studies, and informatics on campuses where the conditions were ripe for entrepreneurial activity. The variation in the names and curricula of these schools suggests that we are still trying to get a sense of the new intellectual landscape. Within this unsettled context, the growing number of researchers attracted towards the Association of Internet Researchers [AoIR] conference gives reason for pause. One now often hears people talking about the "field" of "Internet Research" while its practitioners continue to be housed in departments and schools of library science, business, information science, communications, and others. Something clearly seems to be afoot. But what is it? Is Internet Research a virtual field wherein we have resigned to the permanence of disciplinary boundaries and created an overlay or virtual network across them? Or, are we seeing the emergence of a proto-discipline whose growth will knock down disciplinary boundaries and create a new institutional space? Or, is Internet Research a forerunner of some other configuration we barely understand? This special issue seeks to explore and chart out this evolving intellectual landscape. Contributions in the form of full-length articles (6000 words), forum pieces (3000 words), and short position papers (1000 words) are invited. The special issue intends to present a variety of perspectives and hence is open in terms of topics covered. Among other things, contributors could address questions such as the following: To what extent is Internet Research an academic "field" or "discipline"? What does it mean to label this field? Is "Internet Research" the right name? What are the other possibilities and what are their implications? To the extent that it is a field, what is its emergent structure? In what ways does the growth of this research area parallel or differ from other disciplines? What lessons for the present and the future might be learned from those histories? Where do we stand now relative to where Film Studies, Women's Studies, and other new fields were a few years ago? Manuscripts prepared according to the TIS guidelines (http://www.indiana.edu/~tisj/contributors/authors.html) should be submitted by February 27, 2004. Please send the manuscripts to Nancy Baym (nbaym(a)ku.edu) Authors are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the guest editor. -- Nancy Baym http://www.ku.edu/home/nbaym Communication Studies, University of Kansas 102 Bailey Hall, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA Association of Internet Researchers: http://aoir.org

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RE: [Air-l] question related to OS and governments
by Randolph Kluver (Assoc Prof) 05 Oct '03

05 Oct '03

João, In relation to open source and government policy, you should check out Deborah Halbert's chapter on Open source in Asia.com: Asia Encounters the internet (Routledge Curzon). Extensive legal and policy discussion of the issues developing countries face on this issue. Also, you should look into China's moves with open source, especially in relationship to Linux. The government in China is making a very concerted effort to move all government computers to open source computing. Randolph Kluver School of Communication and Information Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link Singapore, 637718 (65) 6790-5770 Fax (65) 6792-4329 -----Original Message----- From: João Martins [mailto:joao_martins@terra.com.br] Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 8:51 AM To: air-l(a)aoir.org; discuss(a)opensource.mit.edu; sebastian.arnold(a)student.uni-augsburg.de; james(a)apdip.net; rsaroka(a)ciudad.com.ar; josafa(a)rocketmail.com Subject: [Air-l] question related to OS and governments Hello everybody My name is João Martins and I am a post-graduated student in Communication (MA), finishing a thesis about the social dynamics of Gnutella development. Now, I am working in a project for a doctorate in social sciences. My intent is to investigate the brasilian government investiments in Open Source. This scene, in my country, is becoming every day more clear to me, but I can't say the same thing about the internacional context of government aid in OS projects. My question is: did anybody here knows about any article related to that relantionship in any country? Best regards PS - Just to ilustrate this context in Brasil (f anyone becames curious...): recetlly, the brasilian congress starts a considerable investiment with the intention of stimulate the use of free software by a lot of public organs. The actions includes an investimet of R$ 6.3 milions (almost US$ 2 milions) in projects related to the concept of Free Software, besides the creation of a parliamentarian group related to the free software, during an event called "Free Software Week in the Legislative". Did anyone knows about something like this in any other country? == João Martins. joao_martins(a)terra.com.br Post graduated program in Communication Fluminense Federal University Rua Tiradentes, 148, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 24510-590. 55-21-2618-3409 Curriculum Vitae http://genos.cnpq.br:12010/dwlattes/owa/prc_imp_cv_int?f_cod=K4765634E2

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AOIR Toronto: last chance to get in on the gala
by Rhiannon Bury 05 Oct '03

05 Oct '03

Dear conference delegates: We are now just 10 days from the start of AOIR 4: Broadening the Band, and I wanted to make a final plug for the Saturday night gala, an evening of fine food, wine and conversation among old and new friends. The event has now been finalized. After a cocktail hour open to all delegates, a four course dinner service will begin at 7pm. I had lunch at the Hilton's flagship restaurant, Tundra, a few weeks ago and was very impressed with the food and presentation. We have a vegetarian option arranged but the Chef can prepare meals for other dietary needs if notification is given at the time of your ticket purchase. Local pianist David Burt will play a variety of jazz standards during the meal. There was mention of hiring a DJ earlier, but the party animals, oops, I mean the AOIR exec.members, tell us that people would prefer to make their own late night entertainment arrangements.The Hilton is but a short walk west from Toronto's lively nightclub district. Tickets are $50 US and $75 CDN. Already registered but feel you must attend this special event? You can pay in US funds on Kagi. http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=5WS1&& You can also send a cheque in US or CDN funds to AOIR Toronto 2003 c/o School of ITM, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3 Canada. Cheques should be made out to AoIR Toronto 2003, and must be received before October 14th, 2003. There's not much time so those outside of Canada should use some form of express service. Unfortunately, the banquet order MUST be placed by Wednesday Oct 15 at noon, so only a very limited number, if any, tickets will be available for sale on site. We cannot reserve unpaid tickets. If you have any further questions or queries, please contact me at this address or at rbury(a)wlu.ca. See you soon! Rhiannon

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question related to OS and governments
by João Martins 05 Oct '03

05 Oct '03

Hello everybody My name is João Martins and I am a post-graduated student in Communication (MA), finishing a thesis about the social dynamics of Gnutella development. Now, I am working in a project for a doctorate in social sciences. My intent is to investigate the brasilian government investiments in Open Source. This scene, in my country, is becoming every day more clear to me, but I can't say the same thing about the internacional context of government aid in OS projects. My question is: did anybody here knows about any article related to that relantionship in any country? Best regards PS - Just to ilustrate this context in Brasil (f anyone becames curious...): recetlly, the brasilian congress starts a considerable investiment with the intention of stimulate the use of free software by a lot of public organs. The actions includes an investimet of R$ 6.3 milions (almost US$ 2 milions) in projects related to the concept of Free Software, besides the creation of a parliamentarian group related to the free software, during an event called "Free Software Week in the Legislative". Did anyone knows about something like this in any other country? == João Martins. joao_martins(a)terra.com.br Post graduated program in Communication Fluminense Federal University Rua Tiradentes, 148, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 24510-590. 55-21-2618-3409 Curriculum Vitae http://genos.cnpq.br:12010/dwlattes/owa/prc_imp_cv_int?f_cod=K4 765634E2

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question related to OS and governments
by Joao Martins 04 Oct '03

04 Oct '03

Hello everybody My name is João Martins and I am a post-graduated student in Communication (MA), finishing a thesis about the social dynamics of Gnutella development. Now, I am working in a project for a doctorate in social sciences. My intent is to investigate the brasilian government investiments in Open Source. This scene, in my country, is becoming every day more clear to me, but I can't say the same thing about the internacional context of government aid in OS projects. My question is: did anybody here knows about any article related to that relantionship in any country? Best regards PS - Just to ilustrate this context in Brasil (f anyone becames curious...): recetlly, the brasilian congress starts a considerable investiment with the intention of stimulate the use of free software by a lot of public organs. The actions includes an investimet of R$ 6.3 milions (almost US$ 2 milions) in projects related to the concept of Free Software, besides the creation of a parliamentarian group related to the free software, during an event called "Free Software Week in the Legislative". Did anyone knows about something like this in any other country? == João Martins. joao_martins(a)terra.com.br Post graduated program in Communication Fluminense Federal University Rua Tiradentes, 148, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 24510-590. 55-21-2618-3409 Curriculum Vitae http://genos.cnpq.br:12010/dwlattes/owa/prc_imp_cv_int? f_cod=K4 765634E2 __________________________________________________________________________ Acabe com aquelas janelinhas que pulam na sua tela. AntiPop-up UOL - É grátis! http://antipopup.uol.com.br/

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social shaping of eScience and eSocial Science
by steve woolgar 04 Oct '03

04 Oct '03

Dear listmembers ESRC have asked me to do a scoping report to identify issues and problems they should be funding around "the social shaping of eScience and eSocial Science". The basic idea is that despite enormous unfolding investment in eg grid technologies, it seems we know almost nothing about how and why (and by whom) these new technologies will be taken up, nor what will be the likely effects on the nature and conduct of e(Social)Science research. Social shaping is defined very broadly to include all social scientific aspects of the genesis, use, implementation and effects of the new e technologies. Given the recent postings on this topic by Jeremy Hunsinger, Franz Barjak, Denise Rall and Caroline Haythornthwaite; and given the international nature of this list Im keen to get your perspectives. Wed like to know where and how you see your work fit in (if at all), and what are your views on the issues and questions which should be funded. Would you be so kind as to help us please by taking a few moments to respond to the brief questions below? Many thanks for your help (and apologies if you have already received this request separately.) Steve 1. We have thus far identified a number of questions and issues that fall within the remit of social shaping of eScience and eSocial Science. Examples are: What social circumstances encourage or inhibit data sharing and collaborative working? - How will the implementation of new grid technologies affect this situation? - How will the new grid technologies affect the methodologies employed by scientists and social scientists? - How will patterns of communication between scientists be affected? - To what extent will IPR be an issue? - Can we anticipate different attitudes to risk, liability and responsibility? - Are changing structures of accountability concomitant with changing communication practices? - What are the issues around ethics, privacy and trust? - What different social and economic factors affect the uptake and use of grid technologies in different organisational settings? - How can scientists and social scientists be persuaded to make use of the new technologies? Which of these questions best describe your own work? Which others should we add? 2. We have also identified a number of disciplinary perspectives that come under the very broad rubric of social shaping of eScience and eSocial Science. Examples are: - Sociology of technology, science and technology studies - Social informatics, CSCW, ethnomethodology - Library information science, computer-assisted content analysis, data mining - Organisational analysis, economics and business studies, innovation theory - Science communication - History and philosophy of science and technology - Communication studies and education studies - Psychology and anthropology of technology use - Media studies and internet studies - Social science methodology Which of these disciplinary perspectives best fits with your own work? Or, if none of these apply, how would you characterise your work? 3. Could your work be reasonably described as: a) social shaping of e(Social)Science b) social shaping of other technologies c) neither (please specify why not) 4. Frequently, a distinction is made between research which uses the new (grid) technologies and research that is about the use of these technologies. Does your research fit most easily into: a) research which uses new technologies b) research which is about the use of new technologies c) both 5. Please nominate 3 (or more) people who you regard as the key players in this area: 6. Can you think of others who, although not working within a social shaping remit, may be interested in collaborating in social shaping of eScience and eSocial Science projects or initiatives? Thanks again! Professor Steve Woolgar Saïd Business School University of Oxford Park End Street Oxford OX1 1HP +44 (0)1865 288902 **************************** S Woolgar (ed) Virtual Society? - technology, cyberbole, reality (Oxford University Press, 2002) 20% discount for orders through the website: www.virtualsociety.org.uk

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paper on the blogosphere
by Thomas N. Burg 03 Oct '03

03 Oct '03

Hi again. I wanted to bring a paper to your knowledge I wrote recently. Here is the abstract, the paper is available in German and English, and here the permalink to the blog post http://randgaenge.net/2003/10/01.html#a1948 MonsterMedia - monstrosity in the face of weblogs My paper is trying to setup the grounds for researching the newly established blogosphere and the media culture in general in terms of cultural practices vis a vis the new phenomenon. Martijntje Smits theory on how society reacts on new technologies forms the basis of the research on weblogs. Her pragmatic monster-ethics outline social and cultural reaction in view of the emergence of new technologies. My paper elaborates on weblogs, the blogosphere and its practice of linking as new technologies and techniques of content creation that challenge our established public media space. On the grounds of this outline the discourse within the blogosphere as well outside of it will be researched. thomas

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RE: help with computer logging software
by Eszter Hargittai 03 Oct '03

03 Oct '03

For the PC, HyperCam worked quite well for me. http://www.hyperionics.com/hc/index.asp For the Mac, I used SnapZ Pro from Ambrosia, but it was a very bad experience. (They may have improved the program since two years ago so it may be worth trying out.) I certainly recommend a trial run of more than just a few seconds (ideally the entire length) of what you will want to use it for before using it in the study situation. Eszter http://www.eszter.com http://www.esztersblog.com _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com

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