Virtual Tribes: What does this mean?

 

Virtual: occurring or existing primarily online

Tribe: a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest

Community: 1) people with common interests living in a particular area; 2) an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location

Virtual Community

 

Evolution of virtual communities

 

Technology has changed >> Web 1.0 (one-way communication), Web 2.0 (two-way communication)

Old model >> New model

 

Questions to ponder

 

To what extent does sharing information online connect you to others? Does it make you feel part of a community?

 

Does interacting in a virtual community create isolation or connection?  Does true connection mean face-to-face connection?

 

What about belonging to a community based in a virtual world with avatars and role playing?  Are these communities any better or worse than meeting with people in the real world?

 

What about privacy issues?  How comfortable do you feel having information you put on the Web open to the public?  What will happen to this information in the near future or far future?  How might this impact people's lives?  How might it impact their behavior online?

 

As I go along today, ask yourself, What do you think? 

 

Virtual Communities: Let's take a look

 

Social Software

Allows user to easily create online content designed to share.  More here.

Blogs - like a journal (Web Log = Blog)

Wikis - like a website but other people can change it if you want

 

Social Networking 101

An introductory movie by Common Craft

 

Social Sites

MySpace, facebook, Eons (50+), Multiply, and more

Ravelry (a knitter's delight)

CarePages (coping with illness)

WebJunction (professional)

LibraryThing, Goodreads, Shelfari (all about books)

Flickr (photo sharing)

YouTube (video sharing)

Del.icio.us (bookmarking websites)

Meetup (plan online, meet in real life)

MoveOn (grassroots)

 

Social Commerce

Amazon

Netflix

Craigslist

eBay

 

Virtual Worlds

“Many of us are outsiders in our real lives and this gives us a chance to be insiders.”

Second Life demo: 2.5 min (video)

Second Life: Libraries, Library School, and Second Life (video)

Making Money in Second Life (article)

Whyville (virtual world for kids)

 

The business of social networks - going to where they are

 

 

Learn More

 

Web 2.0 in Plain English:  Common Craft has developed cute, short movies introducing social networking concepts to beginners.

Web 3.0 ???  What's next?

 

Questions?  Comments?  Email me!