Networking communities from the bottom up: grassroots approaches to overcoming the digital divide

被引:7
作者
Gaved, Mark [1 ]
Mulholland, Paul [1 ]
机构
[1] Open Univ, Knowledge Media Inst, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, Bucks, England
关键词
Grassroots networked communities; Sustainability; Digital divide; Community networks;
D O I
10.1007/s00146-009-0259-5
中图分类号
TP18 [人工智能理论];
学科分类号
081104 ; 0812 ; 0835 ; 1405 ;
摘要
Achieving meaningful usage of the Internet is more than attaining access: multiple social and technological insufficiencies must be overcome and continually readdressed. A wide variety of approaches have been undertaken to address these issues, both to enable individuals to cross the 'digital divide' and also to enhance community interactions. In this paper, we focus on one approach-grassroots networked communities. These are communities of locality that have developed their own computer network infrastructure with minimal external support. We analyse eight examples from the UK and present survey results, identifying key characteristics and modes of operation. We argue that such initiatives may offer a viable method of overcoming multiple digital insufficiencies and ensure sustainable and meaningful ICT usage. Further research has commenced to analyse how the presence of social software and near-ubiquitous computer network access affects the sharing and storage of information within communities of locality.
引用
收藏
页码:345 / 357
页数:13
相关论文
共 57 条
[1]   AN ECOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION - TOWARD A MAPPING OF THE EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT [J].
ALTHEIDE, DL .
SOCIOLOGICAL QUARTERLY, 1994, 35 (04) :665-683
[2]  
[Anonymous], 1992, AM CALLING SOCIAL HI
[3]  
Arnold M, 2003, COMMUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, P185
[4]  
Bashaw D, 2004, TOP 10 TOOLS EACTIVI
[5]  
Bina M, 2006, P 14 EUR C INF SYST
[6]  
Blair T, 2004, LAB PART ANN C BRIGH
[7]  
Brady M, 2003, P GOOD BAD IRR C 3 5, P336
[8]  
Cabinet Office, 2004, OFF E ENV
[9]  
Cairncross F., 1997, DEATH DISTANCE COMMU
[10]  
Cochrane P, 2003, DIY VS DIFM NETWORKS