Online Communication: Linking Technology, Identity, & Culture

by Wood,Andrew F.

• ISBN13: 9780805848496
• ISBN10: 0805848495
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-08-05
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Online Communicationprovides an introduction to both the technologies of the Internet Age and their social implications. This innovative and timely textbook brings together current work in communication, political science, philosophy, popular culture, history, economics, and the humanities to present an examination of the theoretical and critical issues in the study of computer-mediated communication. Continuing the model of the best-selling first edition, authors Andrew F. Wood and Matthew J. Smith introduce computer-mediated communication (CMC) as a subject of academic research as well as a lens through which to examine contemporary trends in society. This second edition ofOnline Communicationcovers online identity, mediated relationships, virtual communities, electronic commerce, the digital divide, spaces of resistance, and other topics related to CMC. The text also examines how the Internet has affected contemporary culture and presents the critiques being made to those changes. Special features of the text include: *Hyperlinks--presenting greater detail on topics from the chapter *Ethical Ethical Inquiry--posing questions on the nature of human communication and conduct online *Online Communication and the Law--examining the legal ramifications of CMC issues Advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in the field of computer-mediated communication, as well as those studying issues of technology and culture, will findOnline Communicationto be an insightful resource for studying the role of technology and mediated communication in today's society.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Part I: The Internet as Social Technology
Using Technology to Communicate in New Ways	3	(26)
What Is CMC?	4	(1)
Why Study CMC?	5	(1)
Immediacy Versus Mediation	5	(5)
Mediated Society	6	(1)
Mediated Self	6	(1)
Ethical Inquiry	7	(1)
Mediated Reality	8	(1)
Hyperlink: Technology and Tragedy	9	(1)
How Do We Communicate Through CMC?	10	(7)
Electronic Mail	10	(1)
Hyperlink: Chain Mail and the Proliferation of Internet Hoaxes	11	(1)
Bulletin Board Systems	12	(1)
Internet Relay Chat	13	(1)
Multiuser Domains	14	(1)
The World Wide Web	15	(1)
Hyperlink: Computer Anxiety	16	(1)
Comprehending the Internet Through Language	17	(1)
Defining Cyberspace	18	(5)
Finding Cyberspace	19	(1)
Hyperlink: Get a (Real) Life	20	(1)
Extending the Metaphor	20	(2)
Critiques of the Spatial Metaphor	22	(1)
Chapter Summary	23	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	23	(1)
Glossary	24	(1)
Topics for Discussion	25	(1)
References	26	(3)
Understanding How New Communication Technologies Work	29	(22)
A Brief History of Cybernetic Technology	30	(4)
Thinking Machines in the 19th Century	30	(1)
Cybernetic Devices in the Early 20th Century	31	(2)
Ethical Inquiry	33	(1)
Hyperlink: What's the Difference Engine?	34	(1)
The Internet as Cybernetic Organism	34	(2)
Hyperlink: Vannevar Bush and His Amazing Memex	35	(1)
What Is the Internet?	36	(4)
The Browser Wars	37	(1)
Hyperlink: A Post-Beige Revolution	38	(2)
What Are Some Characteristics of Online Communication?	40	(5)
Packet-Switching	41	(1)
Multimedia	41	(1)
Interactivity	41	(1)
Synchronicity	42	(1)
Hypertextuality	42	(2)
Hyperlink: The Dark Side of the Rainbow	44	(1)
Chapter Summary	45	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	46	(1)
Glossary	46	(1)
Topics for Discussion	47	(1)
References	47	(4)
Part II: The Self Among Others
Forming Online Identities	51	(27)
Hyperlink: 15 Megabytes of Fame	52	(2)
The Principle of Telepresence: Is Anyone Out There?	54	(2)
Performing Identity on the Internet	56	(7)
Casting Call: Performing Multiple Roles	58	(2)
Learning One's Lines: Performing Through Language	60	(1)
Gender-Swapping: Performing in Virtual Drag	61	(1)
Hyperlink: The Doggoned Log-On	62	(1)
Anonymity, Pseudonymity, and Identity	63	(5)
Anonymity	63	(1)
Pseudonymity	64	(2)
Ethical Inquiry	66	(1)
Hyperlink: A Rape in Cyberspace	67	(1)
Protecting Identities in the Information Age	68	(4)
Identity Fraud	68	(2)
Shadow Identities	70	(1)
Hyperlink: Judging Information on the Web	71	(1)
Chapter Summary	72	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	73	(1)
Glossary	74	(1)
Topics for Discussion	74	(1)
References	75	(3)
Relating Online	78	(23)
Impersonal Communication: Defining Limits to CMC	79	(5)
Social Presence Theory	80	(1)
Social Context Cues Theory	81	(1)
The Impersonal Perspective Reconsidered	82	(1)
Hyperlink: Emoticons---Frequency and Force	83	(1)
Interpersonal Communication: Opening Channels Through CMC	84	(4)
The SIDE Model	85	(1)
Frequency of Interpersonal Relationships	86	(1)
Hyperlink: Task and Social Functions of E-Mail Among Undergraduates	87	(1)
Hyperpersonal Communication: Transcending Relational Limits through CMC	88	(2)
Managing Online Relationships	90	(5)
Working Relationships	91	(1)
Hyperlink: Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match	92	(1)
Romantic Relationships	93	(2)
Ethical Inquiry	95	(1)
Chapter Summary	95	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	96	(1)
Glossary	97	(1)
Topics for Discussion	97	(1)
References	98	(3)
Seeking Therapy Online	101	(21)
Internet Addiction Disorder	102	(8)
Symptoms of IAD	103	(1)
Hyperlink: Obscenity in Cyberspace	104	(1)
Addiction to Sexual Content	105	(2)
Ethical Inquiry	107	(1)
Is IAD Real?	107	(2)
Hyperlink: Computer-Assisted Therapy Programs	109	(1)
Online Therapy	110	(6)
Coming to Online Therapy	110	(2)
Communicating Support in Online Therapy	112	(1)
Hyperlink: Online Memorials as Therapeutic Communication	113	(1)
Shortfalls in Online Therapy	114	(2)
Chapter Summary	116	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	116	(1)
Glossary	117	(1)
Topics for Discussion	117	(1)
References	118	(4)
Communicating in Virtual Communities	122	(25)
Defining Virtual Communities	123	(2)
Hyperlink: What a DivI'!	124	(1)
Precedents for Virtual Communities	125	(2)
Hyperlink: Society Comes to LambdaMOO	126	(1)
Qualities of Virtual Communities: What Makes a Community?	127	(2)
A Minimum Level of Interactivity	128	(1)
A Variety of Communicators	128	(1)
Common Public Space	129	(1)
A Minimum Level of Sustained Membership	129	(1)
Qualities of Virtual Communities: What Attracts People to Community?	129	(4)
External Factors	130	(1)
Temporal Structure	130	(1)
Infrastructure of the Computer System	130	(1)
Purposes for CMC's Use	130	(1)
Characteristics of the Group and Its Members	131	(1)
Hyperlink: Commercialized Community	131	(2)
Netizenship: Responsibility and Regulation in the Virtual Community	133	(4)
Hyperlink: Group Decision Support Systems	136	(1)
Ethical Inquiry	137	(1)
Critiques of the Community Metaphor	137	(1)
Chapter Summary	138	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	139	(1)
Glossary	140	(1)
Topics for Discussion	141	(1)
References	142	(5)
Part III: Internet Culture and Critique
Rebuilding Corporations Online	147	(19)
Hyperlink: Changing Corporation Cultures---Telephony and the Internet	149	(1)
CMC as Corporate Discipline	150	(3)
Ethical Inquiry	152	(1)
Electronic Surveillance and Anticipatory Conformity	152	(1)
Hyperlink: Microserfs	153	(1)
Corporations and Consumers Online	153	(3)
Cookies	154	(1)
Voluntary Data Submission	154	(1)
Data Mining	154	(1)
Ethical Inquiry	155	(1)
CMC and the Diffusion of Innovation	156	(2)
Communicating New Ideas	156	(1)
Communicating Through Channels	156	(1)
Communicating Over Time	156	(1)
Communicating in a Social System	157	(1)
CMC and Corporate Convergence	158	(3)
Convergence and Clusters of High-Tech Jobs	159	(1)
What Are the Factors Necessary for the Development of High-Tech Clusters?	160	(1)
Chapter Summary	161	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	162	(1)
Glossary	162	(1)
Topics for Discussion	163	(1)
References	164	(2)
Accessing the Machine	166	(13)
A Chicken in Every Pot and an Internet-Capable Computer in Every Home?	167	(3)
Race, Class, and Internet Usage	168	(1)
Hyperlink: The PEN and Electronic Democracy	169	(1)
Critiquing the Digital Divide	170	(2)
Snapshot Critique: Have-Nows and Have-Laters	170	(1)
Place, Not Race, Critique	170	(1)
Hyperlink: Mapping the New Economy	171	(1)
Rediscovering the ``World'' in the World Wide Web	172	(3)
Ethical Inquiry	173	(1)
Decentralization Versus Recentralization	173	(1)
Fragmentation Versus Integration	173	(1)
Diversity Versus Homogenization	174	(1)
Hyperlink: The Great Firewall of China	174	(1)
Chapter Summary	175	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	175	(1)
Glossary	176	(1)
Topics for Discussion	176	(1)
References	177	(2)
Carving Alternative Spaces	179	(15)
Discursive Resistance: Crafting Alternative Spaces Within Dominant Places	180	(4)
Places of Control: Spaces of Resistance	181	(2)
Hyperlink: Laptops in the Jungle	183	(1)
Agonistic and Utopian Rhetoric Online	184	(3)
Ethical Inquiry	184	(3)
Hyperlink: Kathy Daliberti's Cyber-Quilt	187	(1)
The Rhetoric of Hate Online	187	(3)
Community	189	(1)
Anonymity	189	(1)
Outreach	189	(1)
Commerce	190	(1)
Information	190	(1)
Chapter Summary	190	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	191	(1)
Glossary	191	(1)
Topics for Discussion	192	(1)
References	192	(2)
Pop Culture and Online Expression	194	(19)
Literary Depictions of Technology	195	(7)
The Weakness of Human Flesh	199	(1)
The Power of the Wired Corporation	200	(1)
The Pace of Human Life	201	(1)
Popular Film and Technology	202	(6)
Ethical Inquiry	202	(1)
2001: A Space Odyssey---Confronting Technology	202	(1)
Tron: Taking on the Master Control Program	203	(1)
Hyperlink: ``Invasion of the Dots''	204	(1)
WarGames: Is It a Game or Is It Real?	205	(1)
Blade Runner: More Human than Human	205	(1)
AI: Artificial Intelligence---His Love Is Real. But He Is Not	206	(1)
The Matrix Trilogy: Ghosts in the Machine	206	(1)
Hyperlink: What About Virtual Reality?	207	(1)
Chapter Summary	208	(1)
Online Communication and the Law	209	(1)
Glossary	209	(1)
Topics for Discussion	210	(1)
References	210	(3)
Appendix A. Introduction to Hypertext Markup Language	213	(9)
Some Common Tags	216	(3)
Displaying Images	219	(1)
Other IMG Attributes	219	(1)
Uploading and Downloading Files	220	(2)
Appendix B. Researching the Internet Experience	222	(5)
Research into the Technical or Social Aspects of CMC	222	(2)
Hyperlink: Reading up on Internet Research	223	(1)
Practicing Ethics in Online Research	224	(1)
References	225	(2)
Glossary	227	(8)
Author Index	235	(5)
Subject Index	240