- Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Computer-Mediated-Communication
by E. Sean Rintel 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

Hi all, Sandeep Krishnamurthy asked about the use of the term computer-mediated communication. First, in response to your friend's suggestions: >screen-mediated-communication The screen on any device is not the system that controls the mediation - the 'computer' and,software do that, while is where the mediated interaction occurs. To call CMC 'screen-mediated-communication' might be akin to calling letter writing 'page-mediated-interaction' - it doesn't really get to the sense of the mediation. To continue with that analogy, 'pen and paper-mediated-interaction' might be better for letter-writing - if one writes in pen, but what if one writes a letter on a computer, prints it out and sends it? 'page-mediated-communication' brings us, ironically, closer to a generalized representation of the literal 'display of mediation' , but in fact it still does not really get to what the mediation is. We 'writing a letter' is a gloss for a form of mediated interaction between (at least) two people that involves one doing some kind of writing 'onto' (we can include printing) some kind of physical paper, then physical postage of the physical paper in such a way as the written material produced in one time is physically made available to another person. So I think the lesson from that is that the 'name' of any medium somehow captures the 'sense of interaction' of the medium... >device-mediated communication? This is probably too general - a telephone could be device-mediated, as could, indeed, face-to-face interaction (the device being organic but a mechanical contrivance of a sort). So, on to CMC. Like, 'device', 'computer' has certainly become a term that is now almost too general. However, by the same token most 'CMC systems', or 'CMC media' have their own names - 'email', IRC' etc. So in some ways it doesn't matter that 'computer' is so general because (a) we have specific names when we need them and (b) CMC is a good enough superordinate category to differentiate it from at least face-to-face interaction, letter writing and telephone interaction in the sense that we understand those as not involving computers as we now know them. On the other hand, when the actual stuff occuring via CMC systems is discussed, it is referred to by names that are more general, and different, than the names of the CMC system. So, people talk about 'interaction' in chat rooms, or 'reading' a web page. What I am very confusingly getting at is that the term 'CMC' is situated within realm of discourse about communication, and that it, at least, fulfils a task of differentiation from some other forms of communication. It is not necessary for it to do duty on every level, though, hence other names. This brings me to your point: >me. I argued that, starting with the Internet, connectivity with others (or >community, if you like) had to be a component of CMC, but not other forms of >screen-based-communication. By this standard, communicating through PDAs or >e-mail devices such as Blackberry was, indeed, CMC. But, checking out the >weather on a kiosk was not. > >What do you think? Is the term CMC too restrictive? I would disagree that CMC actually has to involve interaction at all. To me CMC could be a checking out the weather on a kiosk webpage because CMC covers the notion that I'm looking at communication on a computer. If I want to talk about some kind of interaction happening via a computer, I could also use CMC. But, as I said above, CMC doesn't have to do the duty of specifically referring to every possible form of CMC. Checking out the weather on a kiosk is patently not the same kind of interactive communication as talking about the weather via email, but to differentiate those we would want other terms anyway. If we were serious about delineating interaction systems withing CMC, we might alter the *last* term to make the kind of communication more specific, e.g. 'Computer-Mediated Interaction' or 'Computer-Mediated Webcasting' etc. On a practical level, CMC has also served very nicely to indicate what many people are researching, and there is something to be said for that, too. Then again, people have mooted lots of other terms to more specifically delineate what they are doing, such as 'online-ethnography' or 'cyber-sociology'. I wish my computer had mediated this email to improve its intelligability. ;) Until anon, Sean -- E. Sean Rintel Communication Department University at Albany State University of New York 1400 Washington Avenue Albany, NY, USA, 12222-0001 http://www.albany.edu/~er8430/

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EURESCOM offers opportunity to re-use European household panel on ICT use
by frankthomasft＠netscape.net 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

"ICT uses in everyday life" The results of the EURESCOM project "ICT uses in everyday life" which had ended in June 2001 provides a deeper understanding of how users respond to current and new ICTs. The material provides insight into users intensity of use and how they incorporate them into their everyday routines. This project explains private use and non-use of Internet and mobile services. This is done through a combination of socio-demographic, behavioural, attitudinal, and life-style factors. The heart of the project is a cross-national household survey performed in nine European countries during October to December 2000. A random sample of more than 9,000 households were included in the survey. The foundation for the design of the questionnaire was provided by a series of 36 focus groups in six countries. These groups included non-users, Internet users, mobile telephone users, and users of both Internet and mobile telephones. EURESCOM is now offering under certain conditions - to organisations, companies and academia the opportunity to utilise the P903 Quantitative Survey Data and associated materials of this project. If you are interested in this offer, please register at http://www.eurescom.de/public/projects/P900-series/P903/ICT-data/default.asp -- Dr. Frank Thomas FTR 34 rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle 75009 Paris France __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

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RE: [Air-l] gender, age, social support and info tech use?
by frankthomasft＠netscape.net 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

Eszter Hargittai <eszter(a)phoenix.Princeton.EDU> wrote: Hi Eszter, I do not knwo if I sent you a paper I wrote with Zbigniew Smoreda of France Télécom R&D on "Social networks and residential ICT adoption and use". The paper us based upon a nine-country representative population survey (field phase end of 2000) and was of Presentation at the EURESCOM Summit 2001, 13-15 November 2001, Heidelberg. Yuo, and everyone else can download it from http://www.eurescom.de/public/projects/P900-series/P903/ICT-data/default.asp The text and the slides are not one-to-one so have a look at both. In the slides we present a segmentation of advanced ICT user by a combination of social network caracteristics and life style. Amitiés Frank Thomas >Hi, > >My study (http://www.webuse.org ) looks at differences in people's online >skills. As I try to write up some of my findings, I'm seeking some >related literature. > >I'm looking for references on theorizing gender and age differences in >the use of information technologies as well as the role of social support >networks in people's use of info tech. Let me clarify as these can all >mean lots of things. > >I'm less interested in pointers to differences in what people do (e.g. x% >women do this online y% men do that online) and more curious to find >literature that tries to explain these differences. In particular, I'm >interested in theorizing gender and age differences in people's ability to >use technologies (especially info tech). I'm thinking there may also be a >gender*age interaction effect and would be especially curious to see >pieces that address that relationship. > >Please note that I am NOT looking for literature on gender identity >expression online and am in general less interested here in the literature >on use of email, chat and other person-to-person communication media.. my >focus is on the ability to use technologies. I know of a lot of >gender-related literature on the former, less on the latter. > >Regarding social support networks, I'm looking for references on the >effects of people's social support networks on their use of information >technologies. Please note that I am NOT looking for the reverse - that is: >how use of info tech enhances or doesn't one's social capital - I'm >interested in works that discuss how one's social support networks may >affect one's use of info tech. (I realize this can get tricky as once >people start using info tech some of their social support networks may be >from interactions via those media.) I'm mainly curious about 1. how people >may be motivated to start using info tech due to their networks; and 2. >how they may turn to their support networks for help with use of info >tech. > >Thanks for pointers to specific pieces (i.e. something more specific then >"xyz.org may have this info"). Also, I don't mean to be hostile by >stating what I'm not interested in, I'm just trying to focus since there >is so much material out there and I don't want to waste people's time. > >I'll post a compilation of responses to the list. Thanks! > >Eszter > >--- >http://www.eszter.com > > >_______________________________________________ >Air-l mailing list >Air-l(a)aoir.org >http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > -- Dr. Frank Thomas FTR 34 rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle 75009 Paris France __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

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Search Engine Rankings
by John Monberg 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

The Search Engine Watch Web site organizes an extensive set of resources about search engines. Information about usage rates is here: http://www.SearchEngineWatch.com/reports/index.html Regards, John Monberg Department of Communication University of Louisville

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Re: Computer-Mediated-Communication
by Wendy Robinson 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

I think Sandeep asks a very important question, well borne out by recent research on STS/cell phone communities, IM, Blackberry, wireless-enabled PDAs, et al. CMC harkens back to a more US-centric time, well before the proliferation of Net-enabled gadgets that we have today and that are emerging, if slowed down by the global tech recession. Such a reconsideration may return us to an earlier time of the first networks (electricity, telephony, broadcast) before stationary systems, necessitated by a plug, were institutionalized. And it could take us forward to cyborg studies. Thus, IMHO, the question connects CMC to the larger issues and theory of technoculture, opening up and amplifying Internet studies as well as making the topic more inclusive -- if perhaps too much so, as Steve brought out. Thanks, Sandeep! Wendy Robinson Duke University

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gender, age, social support and info tech use?
by Eszter Hargittai 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

Hi, My study (http://www.webuse.org ) looks at differences in people's online skills. As I try to write up some of my findings, I'm seeking some related literature. I'm looking for references on theorizing gender and age differences in the use of information technologies as well as the role of social support networks in people's use of info tech. Let me clarify as these can all mean lots of things. I'm less interested in pointers to differences in what people do (e.g. x% women do this online y% men do that online) and more curious to find literature that tries to explain these differences. In particular, I'm interested in theorizing gender and age differences in people's ability to use technologies (especially info tech). I'm thinking there may also be a gender*age interaction effect and would be especially curious to see pieces that address that relationship. Please note that I am NOT looking for literature on gender identity expression online and am in general less interested here in the literature on use of email, chat and other person-to-person communication media.. my focus is on the ability to use technologies. I know of a lot of gender-related literature on the former, less on the latter. Regarding social support networks, I'm looking for references on the effects of people's social support networks on their use of information technologies. Please note that I am NOT looking for the reverse - that is: how use of info tech enhances or doesn't one's social capital - I'm interested in works that discuss how one's social support networks may affect one's use of info tech. (I realize this can get tricky as once people start using info tech some of their social support networks may be from interactions via those media.) I'm mainly curious about 1. how people may be motivated to start using info tech due to their networks; and 2. how they may turn to their support networks for help with use of info tech. Thanks for pointers to specific pieces (i.e. something more specific then "xyz.org may have this info"). Also, I don't mean to be hostile by stating what I'm not interested in, I'm just trying to focus since there is so much material out there and I don't want to waste people's time. I'll post a compilation of responses to the list. Thanks! Eszter --- http://www.eszter.com

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RE: [Air-l] FW: user ranking to web search engines
by Kris Gowen 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

Media Metrics should have that online... > -----Original Message----- > From: Paul M.A. Baker [SMTP:paul.baker@gcatt.gatech.edu] > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 7:07 AM > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: [Air-l] FW: user ranking to web search engines > > One of my students asked me if there are any recently published > articles (or > sources) that > rank which web search engine is the most used search engine by the > general > public? > > Thoughts? > ********************************************************************* > Paul M.A. Baker, Ph.D. > Associate Director, Policy Research > Office of Technology Policy and Programs (OTP) > Georgia Centers for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT) > Atlanta, GA 30318 404.894.0073 [paul.baker(a)gcatt.gatech.edu] > ********************************************************************* > > > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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FW: user ranking to web search engines
by Paul M.A. Baker 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

One of my students asked me if there are any recently published articles (or sources) that rank which web search engine is the most used search engine by the general public? Thoughts? ********************************************************************* Paul M.A. Baker, Ph.D. Associate Director, Policy Research Office of Technology Policy and Programs (OTP) Georgia Centers for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT) Atlanta, GA 30318 404.894.0073 [paul.baker(a)gcatt.gatech.edu] *********************************************************************

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come to Finland for conference
by Jonathan Lillie 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

Anyone want to go to Finland for a conference in lat June...enjoy never-ending days, Nordic cities, smoked fish, etc??!!! I am trying to find one or two colleagues to round-out the paper session that I am organizing called "Doing Cultural Studies in Cyberspace" for the Crossroads in Cultural Studies conference June 29-July 2 in Tampere, Finland. Grad students or faculty are welcome. Beside a general research interest in the topic the MOST IMPORTANT criteria is the willingness and ability to go/get to the conference. All I need is your interest and a 150 word abstract. For more information about the conference, see the Crossroads web site at www.crossroads2002.com. Thanks, Jonatan. Organiser: Jonathan Lillie The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Journalism and Mass Communication 129 Windsor Cir. Chapel Hill North Carolina, USA 27516 E-mail: jlillie(a)email.unc.edu

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Outreach Working Group Charge, with a minor tweak
by david silver 05 Feb '02

05 Feb '02

folks, i fear that i haven't done a good job articulating my position on the outreach project. first, i think that via a number of avenues -- individual recruitment, word of mouth, successful conferences, media coverage, etc -- word of air has gotten out. within a few short years, the organization has grown in leaps and bounds. fantastic. this is a result of all of our, and many others', work. for the most part, however, air membership it seems to me is composed of scholars who self-identify themselves as internet scholars or new media scholars, etc. nothing wrong with that of course but i think it's safe to say that we have done a great job getting the word out to them. when i ran for office, i ran on a platform that stressed further inclusion of scholars and scholarship working on a number of avenues collected (in)conveniently under cultural diversity. i'm not sure what the final results were (were they ever posted to air-exec?) but i do know that i had some strong support. i don't translate that into votes for david cause we like him, but rather votes for my platform, which suggested that we begin defining ourselves in many ways, including a more diverse spectrum (in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class) of scholarship. my involvement into this discussion is not one fed by ego but rather one driven by a very tame intellectual ideology, one that suggests that cultural markers should be proactively made visible. that is all i'm suggesting. there are dozens of directions air can go into -- coupling with industry, becoming more technical, etc -- and this is one i'm suggesting. the reason i think this suggestion is legit is that it appears to be the one i was elected to represent. with that in mind (and knowing that the following paragraph won't satisfy everyone but may make for some interesting conversation), what about this for the second paragraph: The purpose of this working group is to recommend an "external relations" plan that considers how we might raise awareness of AoIR in the world, and assesses what "worlds" to reach. WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN FINDING, HEARING FROM, AND WORKING WITH SCHOLARS INTERESTED IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING THAT EXPLORES THE MANY CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC ELEMENTS -- RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, SEXUALITY, CLASS, AND DISABILITY -- THAT INTERSECT WITH THE NET AND NET USE. The goal is not to target particular people or institutions, but to assess where there are internet researchers are not aware of, or not participating in, AoIR and to develop a strategy for letting those sectors know that we exist and welcome their participation. david

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