Abstract
The combination of low-cost access to increasingly powerful computing and networking capabilities combined with a deregulated internet has facilitated the rapid development of a new social phenomena, that of the online community. The potential for near universal internet access and the ability to communicate at costs lower than ever before in human existence has facilitated the development of online communities which work to fulfill two basic human desires, first, to reach out and connect to other human beings and secondly to obtain knowledge.This paper examines the concept and practice of online communities: first, by establishing an understanding of their historical and technological roots; and then by developing a three-dimensional taxonomy through which the properties of the communities can be examined. Case study examples are utilized to illustrate the community types within the taxonomy.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 51-65 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Technology in Society |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2004 |
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Keywords
- Cyberspace
- Internet
- Networks
- Online community
- World Wide Web
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Business and International Management
- Education
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
Online communities. / Plant, Robert.
In: Technology in Society, Vol. 26, No. 1, 01.2004, p. 51-65.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Online communities
AU - Plant, Robert
PY - 2004/1
Y1 - 2004/1
N2 - The combination of low-cost access to increasingly powerful computing and networking capabilities combined with a deregulated internet has facilitated the rapid development of a new social phenomena, that of the online community. The potential for near universal internet access and the ability to communicate at costs lower than ever before in human existence has facilitated the development of online communities which work to fulfill two basic human desires, first, to reach out and connect to other human beings and secondly to obtain knowledge.This paper examines the concept and practice of online communities: first, by establishing an understanding of their historical and technological roots; and then by developing a three-dimensional taxonomy through which the properties of the communities can be examined. Case study examples are utilized to illustrate the community types within the taxonomy.
AB - The combination of low-cost access to increasingly powerful computing and networking capabilities combined with a deregulated internet has facilitated the rapid development of a new social phenomena, that of the online community. The potential for near universal internet access and the ability to communicate at costs lower than ever before in human existence has facilitated the development of online communities which work to fulfill two basic human desires, first, to reach out and connect to other human beings and secondly to obtain knowledge.This paper examines the concept and practice of online communities: first, by establishing an understanding of their historical and technological roots; and then by developing a three-dimensional taxonomy through which the properties of the communities can be examined. Case study examples are utilized to illustrate the community types within the taxonomy.
KW - Cyberspace
KW - Internet
KW - Networks
KW - Online community
KW - World Wide Web
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0942288992&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0942288992&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.techsoc.2003.10.005
DO - 10.1016/j.techsoc.2003.10.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0942288992
VL - 26
SP - 51
EP - 65
JO - Technology in Society
JF - Technology in Society
SN - 0160-791X
IS - 1
ER -