Virtual Communities

2009 ◽  
pp. 1512-1519
Author(s):  
George Kontolemakis
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Semantic Space ◽  
Computer Networking ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Electronic Networks ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Improved Technology ◽  
Over Time

In recent years, computer-mediated communication has been the enabling factor for connecting people to one another and establishing “virtual relationships” (Igbaria, 1999; Johnston, Raizada, & Cronin, 1996). Virtual communities evolved as users of the early networks utilized them mainly for informal rather than business-related communication. These communities were not planned development in the sphere of computer networking. As this form of interaction increased, the users began to demand better and improved technology and functionality which would assist them in their interactions. “Virtual Communities describe the union between individuals or organizations who share common values and interests using electronic media to communicate within a shared semantic space on a regular basis” (Schubert, 1999). This was one of the first definitions of Virtual Communities. Nowadays, in considering companies that are building or trying to build virtual communities, it seems that the up-to-date definition of Virtual Communities is that these “involve establishing connections on electronic networks among people with common needs so that they can engage in shared discussions that persist and accumulate over time leading to complex webs of personal relationships and an increasing sense of identification with the overall community” (Hagel, 2007).

Virtual Communities

2011 ◽  
pp. 1033-1039
Author(s):  
George Kontolemakis ◽  
Panagiotis Kanellis ◽  
Drakoulis Martakos
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Semantic Space ◽  
Electronic Media ◽  
Computer Networking ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Common Values ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Improved Technology ◽  
Virtual Relationships

In recent years, computer mediated communication has been the enabling factor for connecting people to one another and establishing “virtual relationships” (Igbaria, 1999; Johnston, Raizada, & Cronin, 1996). Virtual communities evolved as users of the early networks utilized them mainly for informal rather than business-related communication. These communities were not planned development in the sphere of computer networking. As this form of interaction increased, the users began to demand better and improved technology and functionality which would assist them in their interactions. “Virtual Communities describe the union between individuals or organizations who share common values and interests using electronic media to communicate within a shared semantic space on a regular basis” (Schubert, 1999).

Towards an Interdisciplinary Socio-Technical Definition of Virtual Communities

2019 ◽  
pp. 612-632
Author(s):  
Umar Ruhi
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Economic Perspectives ◽  
Definition Of

The objective of this chapter is to offer a holistic perspective of virtual communities (VCs) by outlining their underlying concepts and fundamental properties. Firstly, the chapter offers a brief synopsis of research fields that form the basis of socio-technical research on VCs. Key issues and theoretical orientations from four research streams are discussed, namely sociological/psychological, technological, business/management, and economic perspectives. Following this review, the chapter provides a summary of four interdisciplinary literature domains that have significantly contributed to the body of knowledge on VCs. These include computer-mediated communication, community informatics, knowledge management, and internet marketing. Definitions from seminal research studies in these domains are subsequently synthesized to propose an interdisciplinary socio‐technical definition of VCs. The proposed definition offers a nascent ascriptive characterization of VCs along five dimensions of participants, purpose, platforms, protocols, and persona, together constituting the 5 Ps of VCs.

Towards an Interdisciplinary Socio-Technical Definition of Virtual Communities

2018 ◽  
pp. 4278-4295
Author(s):  
Umar Ruhi
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Economic Perspectives ◽  
Definition Of

The objective of this chapter is to offer a holistic perspective of virtual communities (VCs) by outlining their underlying concepts and fundamental properties. Firstly, the chapter offers a brief synopsis of research fields that form the basis of socio-technical research on VCs. Key issues and theoretical orientations from four research streams are discussed, namely: sociological/psychological; technological; business/management; and economic perspectives. Following this review, the chapter provides a summary of four interdisciplinary literature domains that have significantly contributed to the body of knowledge on VCs. These include: computer mediated communication; community informatics; knowledge management; and internet marketing. Definitions from seminal research studies in these domains are subsequently synthesized to propose an interdisciplinary socio-technical definition of VCs. The proposed definition offers a nascent ascriptive characterization of VCs along five dimensions of participants, purpose, platforms, protocols and persona – together constituting the 5 Ps of VCs.

scholarly journals Cyber Criminology and the Quest for Social Order in Nigerian Cyberspace

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip N. Ndubueze
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Routine Activity Theory ◽  
First Century ◽  
Routine Activity ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
New Research

Digital and Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) technologies have altered traditional forms of social relationships across modern societies and have raised critical concerns about social order in the cyberspace. The amorphous and borderless nature of virtual communities have allowed various deviants, criminals and terrorists elements to permeate them. The resultant criminogenic atmosphere has created a new research agenda for the discipline of criminology. This paper examines the emergence of cyber criminology as a twenty-first century field of criminology and argues that its growth is a fall-out of concerns about the increasing rate of crime and disorder in the cyberspace. Cyber criminology seeks to offer explanation to the causation of deviance, crime and terrorism in the cyberspace. The paper which is anchored on Jaishankar’s Space Transition Theory and Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activity Theory highlights the challenges, prospects and future direction of the evolving field of cyber criminology and its relevance to the quest for order in the Nigerian cyberspace.

Virtual Hate Communities in the 21st Century

2011 ◽  
pp. 34-53
Author(s):  
Glenn T. Tsunokai ◽  
Allison R. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Hate Speech ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Interactive Media ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Using Data ◽  
And Function

Technological innovations in computer-mediated communication have helped hate groups to transform themselves into virtual communities. Likeminded individuals are now able to unite from all parts of the globe to promote hatred against visible minorities and other out-groups. Through their online interactions, a sense of place is often created. In this chapter, we explore the content and function of online hate communities. Since bigotry tends to be the cornerstone of virtual hate communities, we highlight the legal debate surrounding the regulation of Internet hate speech; in particular, we address the question: Does the First Amendment protect virtual community members who use the Internet to advocate hate? Next, using data collected from the largest hate website, Stormfront.org, we also investigate how Stormfront members utilize interactive media features to foster a sense of community. Finally, we direct our attention to the future of online hate communities by outlining the issues that need to be further investigated.

The New Face of Sexual Harassment

2009 ◽  
pp. 655-660
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Ritter
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Legal Regulations ◽  
Online Behavior ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Harassment ◽  
Online Technology ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Definition Of

The use of online technology and computer-mediated communication continues to increase dramatically in organizations, bringing with it new avenues for sexual harassment (SH). Online SH includes behavior that follows the traditional definition of SH, but involves the use of the Internet, an Intranet, or other computer technology. SH occurring online rather than face-toface is a phenomenon that began to appear in the literature during the mid-1990s. The unique atmosphere provided by the online environment led theorists to question how women would be treated (most victims are women) (Pryor, Giedd, & Williams, 1995; Pryor & Stoller, 1994) and to redefine the definition of SH to correspond with the emerging world of cyberspace. Indeed, it was quickly evident that the availability of alternate modes of communicating not only introduced alternate modes of SH, but also created an environment in which SH was easy and acceptable. Given the loose legal regulations governing online harassment, the responsibility is left to organizations to understand the new face of SH and provide guidelines to discourage inappropriate online behavior.

Theatre in Second Life® Holds the VR Mirror up to Nature

2011 ◽  
pp. 376-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Schrum
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Creative People ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Physical Presence ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Definition Of

As creative people inhabit virtual worlds, they bring their ideas for art and performance with them into these brave new worlds. While at first glance, virtual performance may have the outward trappings of theatre, some believe they don’t adhere to the basic traditional definition of theatre: the interaction between an actor and an audience. Detractors suggest that physical presence is required for such an interaction to take place. However, studies have shown that computer mediated communication (CMC) can be as real as face-to-face communication, where emotional response is concerned. Armed with this information, the author can examine how performance in a virtual world such as Second Life may indeed be like “real” theatre, what the possibilities for future virtual performance are, and may require that we redefine theatre for online performance venues.

scholarly journals "I Know How You Feel": Multifaceted Insights into the Expression of Support Strategies in Computer-Mediated-Communication

10.29007/wfnj ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Maíz-Arévalo ◽  
Alfonso Sánchez-Moya
Keyword(s):  
Partner Violence ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Communicative Practices ◽  
Linguistic Support ◽  
Support Strategies ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Communication Environments ◽  
Definition Of

This study seeks to explore the wide range of strategies that online users employ to express their linguistic support in computer-mediated-communication environments. Based on a purely semantic definition of the term support, this research puts forward a taxonomy containing several strategies by means of which support can be discursively transmitted in digital contexts. This taxonomy is thus applied to data collected from two prototypical communicative practices taking place online: a Facebook group and an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) forum, which amounts to a total of 12,327 and 26,452 words respectively. Findings show the most salient realisations for expressing support in these two online settings, drawing on the implications the use of a particular sort of strategy may have with regard to the communicative practices under investigation.

Supplementing Access to Social Capital Over Time: Computer-Mediated Communication Competence for Social-Resource Development

2019 ◽  
pp. 089443931989550
Author(s):  
Brandon C. Bouchillon
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Resource Development ◽  
Occupational Prestige ◽  
Social Resource ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Over Time

Social capital has been declining in America for the better part of a century, as citizens now find themselves connected to fewer people and resources. But computer-based modes of social contact have at the same time opened up new frontiers for expanding and developing personal relationships online. A two-wave U.S. web survey was used to examine the importance of computer-mediated communication (CMC) competence for social-resource development, measured in terms of occupational prestige. CMC competence related to acquiring more total resources over time. It also contributed to accessing a wider range of resources and having more valuable connections on average. When CMC competence was broken down into subscale measures, computer-based motivation contributed to total resources and range in resources, while computer-based attentiveness related to developing better resources. Findings speak to the value of CMC competence for social capital and the waning influence of interpersonal competence in general.

Networking Identities

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-42
Author(s):  
Lhoussain Simour
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
New Space ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Virtual Interactions

Electronic connections allow the individual to be at various global sites while sitting in front of his or her computer. By being electronically connected, one’s participation in virtual worlds raises important questions about the nature of our communities and problematizes our identities. This paper examines how experiences in virtual interactions affect people’s real lives and what impact computer mediated communication has on the formation of a virtual community and its relation to individuals’ identities. Virtual communities stimulate experiences that redefine the basic concepts and contexts that have characterized the essence of human societies. They offer new contexts for rethinking the concept of identity and provide a new space for exploring the extent to which participation in computer mediated interaction modifies the subject in terms of identity, leading to a reconstruction and a reconstitution of self.

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