- Air-L - lists.aoir.org

ICT Toolsets for civil society: Request For Proposals
by RG Lentz 15 Jul '03

15 Jul '03

Subject: Information Program ICT Toolsets: Request For Proposals Please pass this announcement to any interested in applying for resources to develop software applications for the NGO environment meeting the following qualifications: Request for Proposals Information Program ICT Toolsets July 15, 2003: RFP announced September 30, 2003: Application deadline December 1, 2003: Results announced The Open Society Institute?s Information Program is pleased to issue a request for project proposals for its ICT Toolsets initiative. This initiative seeks to advance and support open society principles and practices by funding the development of software tools designed to meet the mission objectives of civil society organizations and actors. Sectors of interest: * human rights * legal services for disadvantaged groups * NGO support * independent news media * anti-corruption * public health (disease and issue-specific) Application categories: * situation/case monitoring (domestic violence, human rights, etc) * case management * knowledge management * advocacy/campaign management * data mining, analysis, visualization * collaboration * metadata management (ontologies, semantic web) * secure communications or web surveillance/censorship monitoring tools Excluded sectors and categories: * administrative tools (e.g. accounting, grant management) * eGovernment software * education and training software Criteria for funded toolsets: * Proposed toolsets must directly contribute to the social missions of civil society organizations and initiatives. Tools developed for commercial applications that can be adapted to promote the mission objectives of civil society organizations will be considered. * A project team may apply for support at any stage of toolset creation; teams in the process of development are encouraged to apply for funds to complete and promote their toolsets. * Given the wide variety of content management systems currently available, proposals for these systems will not be considered unless they respond to a significant, unmet need. * Project proposals should fall between $50,000 and $200,000. * The project proposal should include a support and sustainability strategy beyond the grant period. * Both end-user and developer documentation for the software is required by the end of the grant cycle. Please make sure to include the time and cost for this in the proposal where appropriate. * Each proposal must identify a group of end-users who will test the software before final release. Proposals should clearly detail the expected user population, focusing on the scenarios and circumstances under which the toolset would be best used. * Each proposal must include a detailed budget and timeline. Please be certain to specify appropriate resources for the software?s completion, full testing, and documentation. * Open source projects with an active development community and approved Open Source Initiative licensing are preferred. * Software must be based on Unicode encoding to support localization in non-Latin character sets. * Application development team with prior software development and implementation experience preferred. * Projects that encourage standards compliance and interoperability are preferred. Please be sure to note this in section four of the proposal if applicable. * Projects that have additional funding are preferred. * Toolsets may be desktop, client-server, or peer-to-peer applications. Proposal format: The proposal should be no more than ten pages [2500 words] and include the following information: 1. Sector of interest and application category 2. Abstract/overview (1-2 paragraphs only) 3. Detailed description of project 4. Description of technology involved 5. Description of user group, including expected location(s) and use scenarios 6. Description of civil society application for project 7. Description of team, including countries of origin and previous software development experience 8. Budget/timeline 9. Co-funders (if any) Evaluation: Proposal reviewers will have experience in both software development and deployment and the civil society environment. Grant applicants will be notified of decisions no later than December 1st, 2003. Please send all project proposals to toolsets(a)osieurope.org by September 30th, 2003. --- RG Lentz (UT Austin)

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Re: [Air-l] AoIR t-shirt competition
by Paul Chenoweth 15 Jul '03

15 Jul '03

Ulla, Just a couple of points of clarification: 1. The link to the logo is to a two color image. Is there a grayscale version (or a higher resolution version) available? 2. Is the design intended for use on the front of the T-shirt only, or will there be a large imprint on the back and maybe just the AOIR logo at pocket level on the front? If appropriate, I would be happy to assist in the production process... whether that be preparing finished artwork or contracting the actual screenprinting (it is something that I used to do in a former event management life *grin*). my best to you, Paul:) P.S. I will be submititng a couple of designs in the next few days, do you have a preference for file type or image resolution? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ulla Bunz" <bunz(a)scils.rutgers.edu> Date: Saturday, July 12, 2003 7:58 am Subject: [Air-l] AoIR t-shirt competition > T-shirt Competition: > > As AoIR is growing, the executive committee is planning to create > t-shirts and > possibly other items (such as mouse pads, coffee cups) for the > association.These items would be available for purchase over the > Internet before the > conference. > > So far, we have created four possible t-shirt designs, available > for your > perusal at http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~bunz/aoir/logosite.htm > > We would like to invite other suggestions and open up a > competition for the > best t-shirt design. Charlie Breindahl and Ulla Bunz will choose > the best > design of all submissions and the winner will receive a free t- > shirt. You do > not need to be very artistic, just creative. You can create > images, or simply > send a text description of your ideas to bunz(a)scils.rutgers.edu. > > There are only a few limitations that must be taken into > consideration:- designs must include the AoIR logo, available on > http://aoir.org- designs must be in black and white only > > The deadline for designs is July 26. > > Please send suggestions directly to bunz(a)scils.rutgers.edu, not to the > Listserve. Designs will be made available on > http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~bunz/aoir/logosite.htm and we welcome > constructive feedback. > > Thanks! > Ulla > > ************************** > Ulla Bunz > Assistant Professor > Department of Communication > Rutgers University > 4 Huntington Street > New Brunswick, NJ 08901 > ************************** > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l >

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Online interviewing
by Lisa-Jane McGerty 14 Jul '03

14 Jul '03

Dear AoIRers Can anyone recommend any good books/journal articles/websites on doing qualitative interviews online, i.e. using one-to-one synchronous exchanges in some kind of chat environment (or whatever) for qualitative research? Has anyone on the list ever done this? Any thoughts anyone?? Any help gladly appreciated... Lisa McGerty Applied Social Sciences University of Bradford, UK

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Re: [Air-l] Online interviewing
by Mary L. Gray 14 Jul '03

14 Jul '03

Hello Air folks : ) And thanks to Lisa for generating the discussion topic below. > From: "Lisa-Jane McGerty" <L.J.Mcgerty(a)Bradford.ac.uk> > Can anyone recommend any good books/journal articles/websites on doing > qualitative interviews online, i.e. using one-to-one synchronous exchanges > in some kind of chat environment (or whatever) for qualitative research? Has > anyone on the list ever done this? Any thoughts anyone?? Lisa, I haven't come across any specific cites dealing with online interviewing--particularly synchronous discussions (but I haven't been diligent about looking either)...so, I would be interested if you happen to hear of any "must reads" on the topic. I did use online chat, specifically instant messaging for some of my work with rural youth in the U.S. ...i'm looking at how they use new media technologies in the negotiation of sexual and gender identities. I'm talking with young people between 14-24 so there were/are a host of ethical and methodological concerns my IRB and I hashed out before I started the project. A few key issues I've encountered in using this method: 1) because of my need for securing the confidentiality of the youth I'm working with--and assuring they are using a secure computer that can't link them to their conversations with me--it's harder for me to arrange using the net as a space for interviewing because of youth's limited access to such secure computer settings (they don't have a computer at home, or it's a shared family computer, or they are using the computer for fixed amount of time that can't be scheduled with an online interview). 2) literacy and conversational flow seemed a bit stifled online as compared to offline interviewing I did as follow ups with the same individuals..unfortunately, this is difficult to predict. I think it has little to do with the medium and more to do with the individual--I just never knew if someone was going to be more "chatty" online vs. offline..regardless of the medium they felt they would be more conversational with...and I am working with youth who have statistically less educational opportunities than just about any other young person in the U.S. ...several folks opted for talking in person because they were either embarrassed by or felt limited in their use of textual environments for communicating their feelings and ideas. 3) it's great to triangulate offline and online interview data. I don't believe I get anything more "real" out of talking with someone offline, but I do feel like I fill in (or paint) the picture in different ways using both online and offline interviewing techniques. Although it's undeniably appealing to have essentially instant transcripts of interviews using online environments, I always felt like my best interviews happened through a combination of phone, email, chat and inperson conversations. But, as I type that, I have to admit the triangulated interviews were better because I spent more time with the individuals and had a better sense of the kinds of discussion and questions that would really get them talking...i don't have the skills to illicit that kind of talk in online synchronous talk--perhaps that's the bigger issue...how do we train ourselves to use this medium as effectively as we can train ourselves to interview using offline spaces? Best of luck with your work ...and keep us posted on where this conversation goes : ) Mary ________________________________ Mary L. Gray <mlgray(a)ucsd.edu> Department of Communication University of California, San Diego vox: 502/451.5003 mail: PO Box 4004, Louisville, KY 40204 http://weber.ucsd.edu/~mgray

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fAf July 03
by linda carroli 14 Jul '03

14 Jul '03

fAf July 03 fineArt forum = art + technology netnews http://www.fineartforum.org http://www.cdes.qut.edu.au/fineart_online After a short break, fAf returns this month with a full listing of news, events and opportunities in the field of art, science and technology. CURRENT CALLS Check out current calls and job opportunities including: :: trAces TEXTLAB electronic and experimental writers residential schools :: Videotage seeks video and animation for Hong Kong Screenings :: Webcasting Curator position with the Tate, London :: M/C seeks contributors to the 'joke' issue of M/C Journal AND many more ... Submit your calls, events listings and news items to fAf at l2.carroli(a)qut.edu.au or editor(a)fineartforum.org. http://www.fineartforum.org/Backissues/Vol_17/faf_v17_n07/opps_index.html CYBERTRIBE Continuing in cyberTribe Light One, a series of works by Sydney-based artist, Jonathon Jones. Jones has undertaken research trips and cultural exchanges to Hawai'i and Canada and his work has been exhibited in Australia and overseas including as part of the research archive of the 2002 Adelaide Biennial, conVerge. cyberTribe is curated by Jenny Fraser. http://www.fineartforum.org/Gallery/cybertribe/index.htm CONTINUING IN fAf TEXT :: Alt-X Tenth Anniversary: Mark Amerika, founder and publisher of Alt-X, speaks with Linda Carroli on Alt-X's 10th anniversary. :: Power, Politics and the Internet: Gary Foley explores the future technological possibilities of empowerment or disempowerment from an Indigenous perspective. :: Peer-to-Peer: the collective, collaborative and liberated memory of sound: Alessandro Ludovico explores various aspects of file-sharing in relation to sound. :: State of Theatre Scene in Singapore: Agnes Teh investigates the challenges and obstacles faced by the Singaporean theatre scene today. :: Interdisciplinary Practice/Viewer Experience: Judy Malloy writes about the various facets of Interactive art. :: It's Cool to be Real!: Paul Brown reviews Charlie Gere's Digital Culture. :: Online Animation: YJ Tan asks how has the Internet helped in the distribution of animation?. :: The Language of War Symposium: Dave Brine reports on media responses to reportage on the Iraq War. :: Drawing Shortcuts: Heidi P. Jermyn reviews Jim Leggitt's guide for developing drawing skills using today's technology. :: BORDERPANIC: Tracey Benson interviews BORDERPANIC curators, Deborah Kelly and Zina Kaye :: BORDERPANIC Reader: Linda Carroli reviews the BORDERPANIC Reader. TEXT online at: http://www.fineartforum.org/Backissues/Vol_17/faf_v17_n07/reviews/reviews_i… fAf_15: 15th ANNIVERSARY CDROM fAf_15, fAfs commemorative 15th anniversary cdrom is still available and free. On fAf_15, we present the magazine's entire archive as well as specially commissioned and collated new material. fAf_15 is an invaluable resource for researchers, artists, writers and activists in the new media, science and technology fields. To obtain a copy, email fAf at l2.carroli(a)qut.edu.au with your name and postal address. http://www.fineartforum.org/aboutus/highlights_index.html . . . . . SUBSCRIBE To subscribe to fineArt forum: Send an email message to: mailserv(a)qut.edu.au with the following text in the message: subscribe fineartforum To unsubscribe - the first line of your email should read: unsubscribe fineartforum GOT NEWS?? Send it l2.carroli(a)qut.edu.au MORE INFO Nisar Keshvani: editor(a)fineartforum.org Linda Carroli: l2.carroli(a)qut.edu.au MISSION fineArt forum is a free, not-for-profit news and information service exploring the relationship between the arts, sciences and technology. fAf aims to inform new media arts and technology communities worldwide of the latest events, developments and opportunities. fineArt forum is supported by QUT Communication Design Department, School of Film and Media Studies - Ngee Ann Polytechnic Singapore and Mississippi State University. fAf is published by Fine Art Forum Inc. fAf is associated with the Art, Science and Technology Network (ASTN) http://www.astn.net. fAf and Leonardo Electronic Almanac (LEA) are strategic partners. LEA is an online peer-reviewed journal published at MIT Press for the Leonardo Network http://www.leonardo.info.

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4 new papers on opensource.mit.edu and we have reached the 100 paper mark!
by Karim R. Lakhani 14 Jul '03

14 Jul '03

Hi All, Just wanted to let you know that I have posted the following four papers on our website. Thanks to the authors for their submissions. We now have 100 papers related to open source and free software on our website from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. Many, many thanks from Eric von Hippel and me to everyone who has submitted papers and made this site a success! Please keep sending more of your work to us! Best Karim Paper 1 Author: Iannacci, Federico Title The Linux Managing Model http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/iannacci2.pdf Abstract: This study focuses on the distinguishing traits of the Linux managing model. It introduces the concept of process to capture the idea of impermanence, dissolvability and change. Far from being a predictable flow of programming, assembling and releasing activities, it is suggested that the Linux development process displays a stream of activities that keep feeding back into each other, thus creating a complex and unpredictable outcome. The paper further introduces the concept of contingent response patterns to investigate the interaction flows occurring on the Linux mailing lists and subsume patch postings, bug reports and the associated reviewing and debugging activities under its umbrella. The enactment-selection-retention (ESR) model is subsequently brought forward to conceptualize this process as enactment of programming skills subject to selection activities conducted by Torvalds who retains the selected features and feeds them back to the developers’ pool to undergo further enactment activities. Paper 2 Authors: Lanzara, Giovan R & Michele Morner http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/lanzaramorner.pdf Title: The Knowledge Ecology of Open-Source Software Projects Abstract: In this paper we characterize the processes of knowledge making in open-source software projects as an ecology of agents, artifacts, rules, resources, activities, practices and interactions. In order to grasp its dynamic features we consider open-source software projects as interactive systems based on dense interactions between humans and technical artifacts within electronic media. Technology, rather than formal or informal organization, embodies most of the conditions for governance in open-source software projects, hence becoming a critical pathway to the understanding of collective task accomplishment, coordination and knowledge making processes. Based on an in-depth analysis of two open-source software projects, we examine three kinds of artifacts, respectively inscribing technical, organizational, and institutional knowledge. Our preliminary findings support the ecological view, that the contradictory requirements of innovation and stability in project-based knowledge making are balanced by mechanisms of variation, selection, and stabilization. Paper 3 Authors: Nichols, David M, Dana McKay & Michael Twidale Title: Participatory Usability: supporting proactive users http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/nicholsmckaytwidale.pdf Abstract: After software has been released the opportunities for users to influence development can often be limited. In this paper we review the research on post-deployment usability and make explicit its connections to open source software development. We describe issues involved in the design of end-user reporting tools with reference to the Safari web browser and a digital library prototype. Paper 4 Authors: Nichols, David M & Michael Twidale Title: Usability and Open Source Software http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/nicholstwidale1.pdf Abstract: Open source communities have successfully developed many pieces of software although most computer users only use proprietary applications. The usability of open source software is often regarded as one reason for this limited distribution. In this paper we review the existing evidence of the usability of open source software and discuss how the characteristics of open-source development influence usability. We describe how existing human-computer interaction techniques can be used to leverage distributed networked communities, of developers and users, to address issues of usability. -- =============================================== Karim R. Lakhani MIT Sloan School of Management & The Boston Consulting Group, Strategy Practice Initiative e-mail: karim.lakhani(a)sloan.mit.edu | lakhani.karim(a)bcg.com voice: 617-851-1224 fax: 617-344-0403 http://spoudaiospaizen.net/ http://opensource.mit.edu | http://freesoftware.mit.edu http://userinnovation.mit.edu

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online behavior in sims online
by Lokman Tsui 13 Jul '03

13 Jul '03

article about people forming mob gangs and harassing people in the popular sims online game http://www.nj.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a… regards, Lokman -- blog@ http://www.lokman.nu research@ http://www.lokman.org

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AoIR t-shirt competition
by Ulla Bunz 12 Jul '03

12 Jul '03

T-shirt Competition: As AoIR is growing, the executive committee is planning to create t-shirts and possibly other items (such as mouse pads, coffee cups) for the association. These items would be available for purchase over the Internet before the conference. So far, we have created four possible t-shirt designs, available for your perusal at http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~bunz/aoir/logosite.htm We would like to invite other suggestions and open up a competition for the best t-shirt design. Charlie Breindahl and Ulla Bunz will choose the best design of all submissions and the winner will receive a free t-shirt. You do not need to be very artistic, just creative. You can create images, or simply send a text description of your ideas to bunz(a)scils.rutgers.edu. There are only a few limitations that must be taken into consideration: - designs must include the AoIR logo, available on http://aoir.org - designs must be in black and white only The deadline for designs is July 26. Please send suggestions directly to bunz(a)scils.rutgers.edu, not to the Listserve. Designs will be made available on http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~bunz/aoir/logosite.htm and we welcome constructive feedback. Thanks! Ulla ************************** Ulla Bunz Assistant Professor Department of Communication Rutgers University 4 Huntington Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901 **************************

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AoiR 4.0 Broadening the Band
by Monica.Murero＠MERIT.unimaas.nl 12 Jul '03

12 Jul '03

Hi Everybody ! Best of Luck to the Toronto team for a terrific conference!!! Thanks Steve ! Monica Murero, AoIR Conference Chair in Maastricht AoIR Nominee for Vice-Presidency http://aoir.org/forum -----Original Message----- From: Monica.Murero(a)MERIT.unimaas.nl To: air-l(a)aoir.org Sent: 7/9/03 2:12 AM Subject: RE: [Air-l] Re: Impact of intense technology use on memorization' s quality Serge wrote: >Ones could think that the intense use of technology >could lead to a impairment of our memory. Dear All, Another way of looking at this: Intense use of technology affects different "types" of memory. It also becomes an issue of what "type" of memory we are talking about: for example, we can have "everyday functioning", "low-level cognitions" versus the ability to recall specific 'non-common' data for high-cognitive use. A telephone number, for example, could involve low or high levels of cognitions and different propensions to "remember it" if it belongs to a friend or to the local post office. Intense use of technology could lead to different effects according to the types of memory we consider. For example, efficient use of info technologies, utilizing intelligent data pruning strategies and various hardware-based memory, could free up one's memory from "brain clutter" and allow improved foci on pertinent info. For example, I have found myself remembering more data relevant to my research when I memorize them on my Palm. On the other hand, intense use of technology might impair certain low-involvement memories and affect the way one's exposes, processes, learn and memorizes information. I agree on previous posts about Neil Postman's work. There are also several "historical" researches in Media studies showing how the diffusion of radio and TV has affected the learning and memorization abilities of entire generations (acustic versus visual memory). I imagine that using multiple sensorial modalities (visual, tactile, acustic) like certain new technologies allow to do, might facilitate the ability to recall certain types of info, but could impair other "types" of memories. Moreover, specific technologies should be considered: the intense use of technology might have a different impact on our memory according to the technology one's analyzes (Cellular, Internet, Palm, MP3, etc). It could also be relevant to consider how do different "types" of memory might affect ICT over time cheers, Monica Murero

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Re: Sociolinguistics in virtual communities
by Debbie 11 Jul '03

11 Jul '03

Hi, Nancy wrote: > Susan Herring has a piece on discourse analysis of online interaction > in the Handbook of Discourse Analysis (edited I think by Debra > Schifrin, which I have just mis-spelled) that is a must-read > overview. There's probably other good sociolinguistics overviews that > aren't about online interaction in there too. <snip> > Lynn Cherny's book _Conversation and Community_ > > and, immodestly, my own book _Tune In, Log On_, is not without > relevance. Both Lynn and I rely on the concept of "speech community" > and its associated methodologies. Lynn's is more explicitly > 'linguistics.' > > For some non-internet deep background on sociolinguistics, Dell Hymes > and John Gumperz have one classic anthology, and Richard Baumann and > Joel Sherzer co-edited the other. Their titles escape me. and Ulla wrote: > The correct cite is (I know because I just read it myself): > > Herring, S. C. (2001). Computer-mediated discourse. In D. Schiffrin, D. > Tannen, & H. E. Hamilton (Eds.), The handbook of discourse analysis (pp. > 612-634). Malden, MA: Blackwell. Thanks to both of you, and to the people who replied directly. This looks like exactly what I need. Debbie -- -- Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield http://cybertheology.org.uk Views expressed in this email are my own and are not necessarily those of the University of Sheffield or UTU.

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