2.9.10

[online networks and social behaviour]

Interesting read:


Journal of Information Technology (2010) 25, 170–177; doi:10.1057/jit.2010.5; published online 4 May 2010

Gift-giving as a conceptual framework: framing social behavior in online networks

Jörgen Skågeby1
1Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, Stockholm, Sweden
Correspondence: J Skågeby, Department of Journalism, Media & Communication, Box 27 861, 115 93 Stockholm. Tel: +46 737 090420; Fax: +46 8 661 03 04
Top

Abstract

This paper explores the use of gift-giving as a theoretical and conceptual framework for analyzing social behavior in online networks and communities. Not only has gift-giving the potential to frame and explain much social media behavior, but reversely, and perhaps more importantly, mediated social behavior also has the potential to develop gift-giving theory. Information and communication technologies form joint sociotechnical systems where new practices emerge. The paper focuses on describing the academic background of the gifting framework to help develop a deeper, theory-based, understanding of these sociotechnical phenomena. Three themes are prevalent in the gifting literature: other-orientation, social bonding and generalized reciprocity. The paper gives examples of how these themes are enacted by end-users via the use of information and communication technologies. Finally, sociotechnically embedded economies, called gifting technologies, are identified and discussed.





Read more here.

1.9.10

[jisc funding]

JISC has recently updated the future calls section of its website and now shows planned Grant calls and Invitations To Tenders from August 2010 to July 2011.

Details of the calls can be found via the following link http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/futurecalls.aspx

Further information relating to the calls and ITTs will be posted to JISC Announce as these are issued.

26.8.10

[cfp: communication technologies]

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS
Proposal Submission Deadline extended to September 24th, 2010

Human Rights and Information Communication Technologies: Trends and Consequences of Use

A book edited by John Lannon (University of Limerick, Ireland), Edward F. Halpin (Leeds Metropolitan University, UK) and Steven Hick (Carleton University, Canada)
To be published by IGI Global
Website: http://tinyurl.com/33hy2zw

INTRODUCTION
Intergovernmental agencies, governments and non-governmental organizations are now using Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to collect, organize and disseminate information on peoples' rights, the promotion of human rights, and the protection of individuals and communities at risk. These efforts have moved beyond the traditional human rights regime, as more attention is being paid to rights based approaches to development, and to the interconnectedness of environmental protection, climate change and the wellbeing of humanity. As a result, ICT policies and practices are having an even more far-reaching effect on the enjoyment of human rights by all.

Since 2001 ICTs have transformed the capacity of organisations, movements and oppressed communities to highlight human rights abuse, and to advocate for causes and victims of oppression. They make it easier to share and to access information; they facilitate human rights data aggregation and analysis; they offer innovative tactical approaches to campaigning; and they precipitate real-world campaigning and lobbying activities. They enable global participation, and give local actors and previously invisible groups international visibility. At the same time the features that make ICTs an effective tool for the promotion and protection of human rights also make them useful in the exploitation of people and the violation of human rights. They contribute directly and indirectly to the abuse of children, for example; they facilitate the distribution of material that is hostile to racial and religious groups; they threaten the security and the privacy of individuals; and they contribute to the operation of international trafficking and other criminal activities.

OBJECTIVE OF THE BOOK
Human Rights and Information Communication Technologies: Trends and Consequences of Use will provide a comprehensive examination of the use and application of information and communication technologies in the world of human rights. This will contribute significantly to understandings of the impact of ICTss on the promotion and protection of human rights in societies around the world.

TARGET AUDIENCE
This book will provide a valuable tool and insight for academics from a range of fields, including information management, information systems, communications, information technology, international relations, human rights, politics, law, and sociology. It will also be useful to international non-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and governments, for policy and practice.

RECOMMENDED TOPICS include, but are not limited to, the following:
- the impact of ICT policies on human rights;
- the role of information in the promotion and protection of human rights;
- the opportunities and pitfalls of ICTs for human rights campaigning;
- ICTs and human rights education;
- Human rights activism in the information age;
- communication rights, privacy and free speech;
- human rights and the Internet;
- ICTs and gender-based rights
- Information systems deployment in human rights
- Mobile technologies and their application to human rights
- Human rights organizations and the application/deployment of ICT
- Information security
- Information poverty, exclusion, and social, economic and cultural implications

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before August 27th, 2010, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by October 8th 2010 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by December 17th, 2010. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

PUBLISHER
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the "Information Science Reference" (formerly Idea Group Reference), "Medical Information Science Reference," "Business Science Reference," and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com . This publication is anticipated to be released in 2011.

IMPORTANT DATES
August 27, 2010: Proposal Submission Deadline
October 8, 2010: Notification of Acceptance
December 17, 2010: Full Chapter Submission
February 18, 2011: Review Results Returned
May 20, 2011: Final Chapter Submission
September 30, 2011: inal Deadline

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document) or by mail to:
John Lannon
Centre for Information and Knowledge Management
S1-20, Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick,
IRELAND
Tel.: +353 87 8225087 E-mail: john.lannon@ul.ie

25.8.10

[phd scholarship]





CIRCUS VIDEO ARCHIVE MEETS WEB 2.0 – OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN AN EXCITING INTER-DISCIPLINARY TEAM

THE PROJECT: The Circus Oz Living Archive: developing a model of online digital engagement for the performing arts

The successful applicant will have demonstrated capacity in any or all of new media, networked media, online video, interaction design or participatory and social media. In addition you will be excited by the prospect of helping to develop innovative approaches to social media in the context of online video and performing arts audiences.

As a PhD candidate on this ARC funded project you will be supervised by Associate Professor Laurene Vaughan and co-supervised by Dr. David Carlin and Adrian Miles. This digital media candidate will receive training in practice based research methodologies, with a particular orientation towards user centred design and interaction design. In addition you will undertake qualitative research into new media, Web 2.0, social media, and online video to inform the development and critical appraisal of all prototypes. You will be expected to develop an understanding of contemporary issues and practices in terms of the digital humanities with a specific emphasis on video within Web 2.0 systems and the development of innovative narrative and documentary possibilities through the utilisation of existing archival material online.

As this position is situated within the Circus Oz, Living Archive research project, the successful application will collaborate with a computer science PhD candidate as we work towards the creation of the Living Archive. As such the computer science candidate will compliment your area of expertise in the project and focus on building a content based image retrieval (CBIR) system using public domain image retrieval software, and investigating how the content based image retrieval may supplement the social media video archive as a search mechanism.

This PhD scholarship provides a tax-free stipend of AUD26,533 per annum for three years. There are also limited funds to support the candidate is disseminating their research outcomes throughout their study program in conjunction with the other project researchers. The position is full time, and is based at RMIT’s city campus, in Melbourne, Australia.

Potential applicants are invited to contact the project leader, Dr David Carlin [david.carlin@rmit.edu.au, or phone 03 99253934], for more information.

To apply, please send an Expression of Interest by email to Dr David Carlin.
Your Expression of Interest (two pages) should include the following information:
1. Why you are interested in the position.
2. Academic Qualifications (include years of enrolment, date completed or expected to complete, name of institution, Hons and/or Masters level of award if applicable)
3. Professional Experience – provide details (including duration) of any professional experience, previous and current, relevant to your application. You can also include relevant professional development such as workshops and conferences.
4. Publication Details and/or Folio – if you have authored, exhibited or produced works relevant to your application please provide full details of the publication or exhibition including level of authorship, extent of involvement and whether the work was refereed, assessed or judged. Attach the front page for text publications, and the relevant page of an exhibition catalogue or programme.
Please also attach links to authored or produced works accessible for viewing online.
5. Research Experience – please provide details of any research experience relevant to your application. Research experience can include involvement in other forms of original work, authorship and creativity. If any of the qualifications you listed in (2) above involved research
please provide specific details.

Expressions of Interest close on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010.

See here for further details:
http://www.circusarchive.net/blog/2010/08/call-for-expressions-of-interest-phd-scholarship-media-and-communication/


Note: image from circus archive.

23.8.10

[screen names & online dating]




What's in a Screen Name? Attractiveness of Different Types of Screen Names Used by Online Daters 
Monica T. Whitty1, Tom Buchanan2 
1Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, 2University of Westminster, United Kingdom 
Abstract: This paper examined whether different types of screen names offer advantages when it comes to attracting a partner on dating sites. In the pilot study, we conducted a content analysis of real screen names to develop a typology of screen names. In the main study, we explored whether the typology predicted online daters' ratings of names, and compared the types of names that appealed to men and to women. Men more than women were attracted to screen names that indicated physical attractiveness, and women more than men were attracted to screen names that indicated intelligence or were neutral. Similarly, men more than women were motivated to contact screen names which indicated physical attractiveness and women more than men were more motivated to contact screen names which indicated intellectual characteristics or were neutral. These findings indicate that different types of screen names may elicit different reactions.
Keywords: Online dating, Internet dating, screen names, attraction, gender differences, Internet relationship