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Research on Social Networking
by greenhow＠umn.edu 28 Aug '07

28 Aug '07

Greetings! I do research on emerging technologies in education. I'm wondering if anyone knows of people/papers examining social networking sites as learning contexts and/or their relationship to students' learning/success in school or college? I'm also interested in social networking Web sites for scholars and research in this area. Thank you for any referrals! > Cheers, > Christine Greenhow > Postdoctoral Associate > Learning Technologies > College of Education and Human Development > University of Minnesota > greenhow(a)umn.edu > Co-founder: www.admissionpossible.org

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micropayments . . .
by Ed Lamoureux 28 Aug '07

28 Aug '07

In Online World, Pocket Change Is Not Easily Spent By DAN MITCHELL Published: August 27, 2007 SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26 — The idea of micropayments — charging Web users tiny amounts of money for single pieces of online content — was essentially put to sleep toward the end of the dot-com boom. In December 2000, Clay Shirky, an adjunct professor in New York University’s interactive telecommunications program, wrote a manifesto that people still cite whenever someone suggests resurrecting the idea. Micropayments will never work, he wrote, mainly because “users hate them.” . . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/technology/27micro.html?th&emc=th Edward Lee Lamoureux, Ph. D. Associate Professor, Multimedia Program and Department of Communication Co-Director, New Media Center 1501 W. Bradley Bradley University Peoria IL 61625 309-677-2378 <http://slane.bradley.edu/com/faculty/lamoureux/website2/index.html> <http://gcc.bradley.edu/mm/> AIM/IM & skype: dredleelam Second Life: Professor Beliveau

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Fwd: [Icommons] CCau Report - Unlocking the Potential through Creative Commons
by Jeremy Hunsinger 27 Aug '07

27 Aug '07

Begin forwarded message: > From: Jessica Coates <j2.coates(a)qut.edu.au> > Date: August 27, 2007 2:08:30 AM CDT > To: cci(a)lists.ibiblio.org, icommons(a)lists.ibiblio.org, cc- > community(a)lists.ibiblio.org > Subject: [Icommons] CCau Report - Unlocking the Potential through > Creative Commons > > Apologies for the no subject post. Here's a second try. > > _____ > > From: cci-bounces(a)lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:cci- > bounces(a)lists.ibiblio.org] > On Behalf Of Jessica Coates > Sent: Monday, 27 August 2007 5:04 PM > To: cci(a)lists.ibiblio.org; icommons(a)lists.ibiblio.org; > cc-community(a)lists.ibiblio.org > Subject: [CCi] (no subject) > > > > I am very pleased to announce the release of a new report by the > Australian > Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and > Innovation > (CCi) (http://cci.edu.au) and Creative Commons Australia > (http://creativecommons.org.au <http://creativecommons.org.au/> ) - > Unlocking the Potential Through Creative Commons: An Industry > Engagement and > Action Agenda. > > This report draws upon the CCau Industry Forum, a research-focused > industry > engagement event hosted by CCi in November 2006. The event was > designed to > follow up a recommendation in the Australian Government's 2005 Digital > Content Action Agenda report > (http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/ > 37356/06030055_REPORT.pdf) > that the industry should "engage with work occurring in the area of > alternative approaches to intellectual property licensing, such as > Creative > Commons". Focusing on the government, education and the creative > industries > sectors, the Forum aimed to evaluate understanding of and attitudes > towards > copyright, open content licensing (OCL) and the Creative Commons > initiative > within Australia. > > > The Unlocking the Potential Through Creative Commons report > evaluates and > responds to the outcomes of this Forum and presents a strategy for > continued > research into Creative Commons in Australia. Full copies of the > report can > be downloaded at http://creativecommons.org.au/unlockingthepotential. > > Apologies for cross-posts. > > > > > > > > Jessica Coates > > Project Manager > > Creative Commons Clinic > > Queensland University of Technology > > > > ph: 07 3138 8301 > > fax: 07 3138 9598 > > email: j2.coates(a)qut.edu.au > > > > _______________________________________________ > Icommons mailing list > Icommons(a)lists.ibiblio.org > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/icommons jeremy hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) wiki.tmttlt.com www.tmttlt.com () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments http://www.stswiki.org/ sts wiki http://cfp.learning-inquiry.info/ Learning Inquiry-the journal http://transdisciplinarystudies.tmttlt.com/ Transdisciplinary Studies:the book series

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big grants for big ideas
by David M Silver 27 Aug '07

27 Aug '07

folks, there's been a recent surge in new media / social media grant opportunities and they are coming from many different directions. here are four: (please note: this same post also exists on my blog. the blog version is superior because it has hyperlinks to the grants, the sponsoring organizations, etc. if interested, please visit: http://silverinsf.blogspot.com/2007/08/big-grants-for-big-ideas.html ) 1. ACLS digital innovation fellowships: third annual competition sponsored by the american council of learned societies. ACLS digital innovation fellowships "support digitally based research projects in all disciplines of the humanities and humanities-related social sciences. it is hoped that projects of successful applicants will help advance digital humanistic scholarship by broadening understanding of its nature and exemplifying the robust infrastructure necessary for creating further such works." the fellowships award time off from teaching and up to $55,000 for stipends and $25,00 for project costs. eligibility: US citizenship or permanent resident status; PhD or equivalent in all fields of the humanities and the humanistic social sciences. deadline: october 3, 2007. 2. digital humanities start-up grants: a big time set of grants co-sponsored by the national endowment for the humanities (NEH) and the institute of museum and library services (IMLS). the goal of the digital humanities start-up grants is "to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. by awarding relatively low-dollar grants during the planning stages, the goal is to identify projects that are particularly innovative and have the potential to make a positive impact on the humanities." level I grants range from $5,000 to $25,000; level II grants range from $25,000 to $50,000. eligibility: 1) US-based nonprofit organizations and institutions; 2) state and local governmental agencies and native american tribal organizations; and 3) US citizens and foreign nationals who have been living in the US for at least three years. deadline: october 16, 2007. 3. knight news challenge: a competition run by the john s. and james l. knight foundation. the goal of the knight news challenge is "to spur innovation in the delivery of information and news using digital media." does your idea use digital media? is it new and original? does it involve giving people access to news/information? is your idea timely? does your idea create a community and does it affect people in a specific geographic area? is it open source? if you said "yes!" to each question, you should apply. they are giving away $5 million this year and plan to drop $25 million over five years period. eligibility: anyone. deadline: october 15, 2007. 4. macarthur foundation's innovation awards and knowledge-networking awards: a public competition sponsored by the foundation's digital media and learning initiative and administered by the humanities, arts, science and technology advanced collaboratory (HASTAC). innovation awards "support learning pioneers, entrepreneurs, and builders of new digital learning environments for formal and informal learning." knowledge-networking awards "support communicators in connecting, mobilizing, circulating or translating new ideas around digital media and learning." innovation awards are $100,000 and $250,000; knowledge-networking awards range between $30,000 and $75,000. eligibility: the primary applicant must be at least 21 and be a US citizen or resident with a work permit for the duration of the grant term. also eligible: nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and corporations. deadline: october 15, 2007. david silver http://silverinsf.blogspot.com/

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next round of ycombinator startups by oct 11
by Jeremy Hunsinger 27 Aug '07

27 Aug '07

http://ycombinator.com/w2008.html jeremy hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments http://www.aoir.org The Association of Internet Researchers http://www.stswiki.org/ stswiki http://cfp.learning-inquiry.info/ LI-the journal http://transdisciplinarystudies.tmttlt.com/ Transdisciplinary Studies:the book series

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First e-strike?
by George Floros 26 Aug '07

26 Aug '07

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/24/ibm_italy_strike/ IBM faces Second Life strike By Martin Banks Ever wanted to go on strike, be part of that feeling of solidarity on the picket line, but felt too cowardly to take the risk? September should see just the opportunity for you. That is when Rappresentanza Sindacale Unitaria IBM Vimercate (RSU), the official trade union representing IBM's 9,000 workers in Italy, is planning a most novel form of industrial action -- a strike on Second Life -- and it wants as many avatars as possible manning the picket lines. Details of what form the industrial action will take in this virtual world are scant at the moment, except that a Union spokesman has hinted that they are hoping Second Life avatars from around the world will participate. A statement sent to The Register by the RSU sets out the reasons for the industrial action as follows: It seems that the reasons for this first virtual strike are related to the renew of the internal agreement. While IBM is one of the company with major profits, its employees are receiving very few fruits of this big mountain of money. The internal climate is below all the IT industries (taking advantages for the famous IBM's competitor: HP), and the drop that overflowed the glass is the long and inconclusive negotiation for the internal agreement. While the works council, supported by the majority of IBM Italy employees, was asking for a small salary increase, IBM responded with the complete suppression of the "productive results benefit", with a loss for a single employee of €1000 per year. For a company that wants to lead the corporate social responsibility, this is really too much. IBM has a widely reported presence on Second Life which is now set to face, at the very least, a picket line of characters that come straight out of the darker recesses of wild imaginings. It will be interesting to see how it plays out should the strike take place. The RSU is obviously hopeful that IBM's local management will see things its way, and the action does raise some interesting considerations. Second Life is already being seen by many corporations as a good marketing and merchandising tool, but the union is seeing its potential slightly differently. "The high offices of the company are worried, because this action will turn on the lights on the project of creation of a global union alliance, that is engaging the unions from over 16 countries worldwide, including the new IT boundary: India," the statement said. What can be used to motivate people to buy products or services can, just as easily, be used to inform and motivate workers in a global economy that they can take global collective action. They could even test out industrial action tactics in relative safety. It could be a tantalising prospect for a committed union activist. It will be interesting to see what actual impact the virtual industrial action has in the real world, and how IBM handles it. UK Second Lifers with long memories may also be keeping a wary eye open for an appearance by the ultimate avatar for such situations -- The Iron Lady of Orgreave.

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World Information Access Project, 2007 Data Memos
by Philip Howard 26 Aug '07

26 Aug '07

Dear AIR: A series of short data memos from the World Information Access Project are now online at www.wiareport.org. Topics include - The World's Libraries Online The Urban Digital Divide I: Global Cities v. Regional Centers The Urban Digital Divide II: Rich v. Poor Cities National Dependency in the Information Age Has Privatization Contributed to the Relative Decline of Internet Hosts Africa? Muslim Political Parties Grow Online In addition, a there is *.pdf version of the briefing booklet we are sending out to journalists, academics and policy makers. It includes a particularly cool map "Wired Countries of the World" with a original comparative data about wired governments, political parties, libraries and civic groups in 190 countries. http://www.wiareport.org/wia_report_2007_map_only.pdf Many people from this list are already on the mailing list and will be getting a hardcopy of this map in the mail. But if this looks particularly interesting, send me an email and I'll happily make sure one is posted to you. Phil Dr. Philip N. Howard Assistant Professor Department of Communication University of Washington

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A tribute to Rhys Jones by his mates
by Martin Garthwaite 26 Aug '07

26 Aug '07

In an area of Liverpool (England) an 11 year old boy was gunned down and killed. His friends have built this web site in his memory. http://pic1.piczo.com/LovingMemoryOfRhys/?g=29378596&cr=1&nsrc=pph It's a particularly power site, given the tragedy, the age of the authors and the message it conveys. -- Martin Garthwaite PhD candidate, London Knowledge Lab www.lkl.ac.uk +447957 764819 Skype id mgarthwaite1330 MS IM marting(a)gmail.com

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final call for fantasy footbal
by Jeremy Hunsinger 25 Aug '07

25 Aug '07

we could still use two or three people, it is more fun than research Jeremy Hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) Words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. --Byron

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"Text Annotation for Political Science Research"
by Stuart Shulman 25 Aug '07

25 Aug '07

Call for Papers A special issue of the Journal of Information Technology & Politics "Text Annotation for Political Science Research" Text is an important data source for political science research. Large, digitized text collections are becoming increasingly common. Yet most political scientists have little familiarity with the language-processing methodologies available to support research using these collections. Specifically, we are interested in methodologies from the fields of information retrieval, natural language processing, and machine learning. These techniques facilitate the automatic searching, organizing, categorizing, and extracting of information from digitized text. At a high level, the goal of language-processing is to provide one or more semantic annotations on the text. The political science question of interest can then be explored using these annotations. Text annotation techniques vary not only according to the type of semantic annotation required, but also according to the degree of manual intervention involved in the annotation process: text annotation tasks can be accomplished entirely manually ( i.e., via human content coding), entirely automatically (e.g. via keyword-based search or text clustering algorithms), automatically after a manual training period (i.e. via "supervised" machine learning methods), or semi-automatically ( e.g. via "weakly supervised" machine learning methods that acquire automatic annotation systems from very small amounts of manually labeled text). Although the potential of text annotation methods for political science research is enormous, it is understandably difficult for researchers to know where to start. In addition, in contrast to other research methodologies in the social sciences, the criteria for evaluating social science results that rely on automatic text annotation systems are not widely known, accepted, or appreciated. Keyword searches, for example, are commonly used to trace changing political attention across time, but rarely is attention given to their reliability or accuracy, raising doubts about the validity of researcher inferences. The aim of the special issue is to solicit and publish papers that provide a clear view of the state of the art in text annotation and evaluation, especially for political science. How do the techniques map onto major questions addressed by political scientists? What kinds of problems have been addressed in existing work and what text annotation methods have proven most successful? Are standard statistical measures of accuracy, recall, and precision adequate for evaluating the performance of the text annotation technique, or are new evaluation procedures needed that simultaneously consider the social science question being investigated? Given these interests, we therefore encourage submissions in the following areas: • tutorial-style surveys of state-of-the-art techniques in human language technologies and text annotation; • surveys of the state-of-the-art in the application of language-processing techniques in the social sciences, particularly in political science; • comparisons of competing text annotation methodologies on the same corpus/corpora; • innovative evaluation and diagnostic methods; • studies of text annotation methods that try to limit the amount of costly, manually annotated data for training automatic annotators, e.g. active learning; • specific applications and evaluations of language-processing and text annotation techniques; • applications of the text-processing techniques on non-social science problems that point the way to innovative social science applications; and • surveys of the available language-processing tools and resources with guidance for when to use them. All submissions must be prepared according to the submission guidelines available at: http://www.jitp.net The initial submission is due by November 1, 2007 The guest editors for the special issue are: Claire Cardie, Professor Computer Science and Information Science 4130 Upson Hall Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853-7501 cardie(a)cs.cornell.edu John Wilkerson, Associate Professor Department of Political Science 101 Gowen Hall University of Washington Seattle WA 98195-353530 jwilker(a)u.washington.edu -- Dr. Stuart W. Shulman Director, Sara Fine Institute School of Information Sciences Director, Qualitative Data Analysis Program University Center for Social and Urban Research University of Pittsburgh

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