Ben Davidson wrote:
Quentin, First, what are 'non-linear feedback loops'
Non-Linear Systems are Systems which are not characterizable by linear or first-order equations, but are governed by any variety of complex, reciprocal relationships, or feedback loops. In the case of online discourse in places like email lists, newsgroups etc. it works as follows: An increase in the membership of a virtual public will probably result in an increase in virtual public communication and communication load. Communication load being the processing effort required by users to deal with a set of communications. However, it will not be possible for individuals to expand their involvement in virtual public communication indefinitely because of limits to the resources available to them to process group communication. Once virtual public communication becomes unmanageable or incoherent to individuals, then, the pattern of their involvement will alter, which in turn will impact on subsequent discourse dynamics. In taking this approach, it can be seen that the notion of communication loads abstracts the individual idea of information overload to the group level.
and what is 'asymptote'?
asymptote n. a straight line that is closely approached by a plane curve so that the perpendicular distance between them decreases to near zero as the distance from the origin increases to infinity.[C17: from Greek asumpt tos not falling together, from A-1 + SYN- + ptotos inclined to fall, from piptein to fall]
The Boundaries of Virtual Communities: From Virtual Settlements to the Discourse Dynamics of Virtual Publics By: Quentin (Gad) Jones
I'd like to read more. Is the PhD online anywhere?
I haven't put the entire thesis online yet because I have just started a new job and because I am thinking through advice I have received not to put the entire work online (It is 250+ 10 point single spaced). I am also thinking about turning it into a book. Various related papers do exist which I am happy to forward to anybody that is interested including: Jones Q., Ravid G., and Rafaeli S. "Mass Interaction, Information Overload and Computer Mediated Communication Tools": Submitted to Information Systems Research, March 2002. Jones Q., Ravid G., and Rafaeli S. (2002). "An Empirical Exploration of Mass Interaction System Dynamics: Individual Information Overload and Usenet Discourse." In: Proceedings of the 35rd Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, IEEE, Big Island, Hawaii. Jones Q., Ravid G., and Rafaeli S. (2001) "Empirical Evidence of Information Overload in Mass Interaction." Proceedings of CHI'2001. The ACM's Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Seattle, USA. ACM Press. Jones Q., and S. Rafaeli (2000). Time to Split, Virtually: 'Discourse Architecture' and 'Community Building' as means to Creating Vibrant Virtual Publics. Electronic Markets: The International Journal of Electronic Commerce and Business Media. 10(4) 214-223. Jones Q., and S., Rafaeli. (2000). What do virtual 'Tells' tell? Placing cybersociety research into a hierarchy of social explanation. In: Proceedings of the 33rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, (HICSS), Hawaii, IEEE Press. *** arguments modified and improved upon substaintually in the PhD thesis". Jones Q., and Rafaeli. S., (1999) "User Population and User Contributions to Virtual Publics: A Systems Model." Proceedings of the ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work (Group99). Phoenix, Arizona, USA, ACM Press. *** early and immature **** Jones Q., (1997) "Virtual-Communities, Virtual-Settlements & Cyber-Archaeology: a theoretical outline." Journal of Computer Mediated Communication. Vol 3., Issue 3., Dec. http://jcmc.huji.ac.il/vol3/issue3/jones.html