Flemming Schneider Rhode, 21st March 2010

“A process of human communication

via computers, involving people, situated in particular contexts, engaging in processes to shape media for a variety of purposes” (December, 1997)

Asynchronous Communication People Communicating do not have the

same time availability Examples: Email, Blackboard

Synchronous Communication Interaction happening in real time Examples: IMing, NetMeeting, Skype

Canary et al. on Online Self Presentation (p. 175)

Poorer Channels create ambiguity Threats to self presentation are often

mediated Hyperpersonality CMC content is characterized by core rather

than peripheral topics CMC is assumed deliberate and purposeful We get to know each other faster, but also

more narrowly online

60 Minutes Report Career implications (Canary et al.,

2006, p. 154-5) The typical user spends about 20

minutes a day on the site, and two-thirds of users log in at least once a day (Cassidy, 2006; Needham & Company, 2007).

Metaperceptions often inaccurate (Canary et al. ,2006, p. 139)

Individuals are recognized by (Stewart, 2009, p. 120):1) Personal Markers (e.g. writing style,

avatars)2) Online social conduct 3) Contribution to the cooperative narrative

Issues of reliability and trust Issues of anonymity

Informative Aspects (credibility and expertise of the author)

Group Pressure Aspects (Unpopular opinions vs. blind attacks)

Freedom of Speech

What Is an Author (Foucault) Authorship is an idea, a not a given Texts and discourses transition from an

act to a product Author “function” Implications for how we see CMC such as

Wikipedia, blogs, and Open Source coding