To answer your query, you might take a look at what is becoming known as "Community Informatics" which is the cross-over point between Informatics and community research and includes in its "Community of Practice" both practitioners and academics. There is quite a lively group of individuals in the UK (and elsewhere) including CIRA (Community Informatics Research Associates) at the U. of Teeside and several courses in Information Studies, Computer Science and Sociology programs in about a dozen or so UK universities (at last count).

The book I edited "Community Informatics: Enabling Communities with Information and Communications Technologies", Idea Group, 2000 http://www.idea-group.com/books is now available at a discounted price from the publisher and includes a range of accounts of Geo-local communities becoming enabled with ICTs. A further book with similar contents is due out later this year edited by the Teeside group.

There is also a quite active email list CommunityInformatics@vcn.bc.ca which you (and others) are invited to join which includes both academics and practitioners and representation from 40 or so countries. To sub, send a message

subscribe communityinformatics

Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.

(Visiting) Professor: School of Management

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Michael Gurstein & Associates

Vancouver, BC CANADA

----- Original Message -----

From: CRAIG MURRAY

Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 3:56 AM

Subject: [Air-l] Re: networking communities

Hi Kate and all.

> It would be lovely if you could share what you have, perhaps by >posting a link to your work to the AOIR list. What are you aiming to >do?

I'm researching a research proposal, in which I'd like to look at the use of information technology by the Deaf community. In particular, I'd like to introduce networked computing in two local deaf clubs in England (30 miles apart) and explore how these extended networks impact upon the quality of life of members. While there are already established dicussion lists with a world-wide membership, I am interested to see how (if?) CMC between groups of people who live in geographical proximity to one another enriches their lives. Thanks to all who have sent responses to my initial request for references/information. I would appreciate any more help that members can provide, and will provide a summary of responses to the list in due course.

Best wishes, Craig.

Craig D. Murray
Lecturer in Psychology
Department of Psychology
Liverpool Hope University College
Hope Park
Liverpool
L16 9JD
UNITED KINGDOM

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