[Air-l] we need a new word? (Intern)

[richard-seyler.ling at telenor.com]

Wouldn't a type of overly technical description be IP mediated communication?  All the things you describe are IP based and go via the Internet.  Yet they are communication (in the social sense of the word).  

Using IP mediated communication would allow us the fun of coining a new acronym like IPMC or IPMECOM or IPCOM that only the cognicenti understand for awhile.

I note, however, that your discussion does not necessarily include mobile communication.  For that we would need another acronym like MOMECOM for mobile mediated communication.

Rich L. 



-----Original Message-----
From: air-l-aoir.org-bounces at listserv.aoir.org
[mailto:air-l-aoir.org-bounces at listserv.aoir.org]On Behalf Of Barry
Wellman
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 16:45 PM
To: aoir list
Subject: [Air-l] we need a new word?


I was speaking at a seminar for non-techies at MIT yesterday (not a
contradiction, as these were community development folks from across the
USofA).

And I found myself saying -- and my PPTs reading -- "Internet" -- but then
verbally qualifying by saying, "well I really don't mean the traditional
email Internet, but also IM, chat, lists, video, etc." (add your favorite
including Usenet and BBS).

What to call it? "Computer mediated communication" is a mouthful, jargony
and chews up PPT space. "New media" is too indistinct and PoMo: moreover,
is email "new media" any more? We should focus on the affordances of
the media and not on the newness.

So what to call it. My first thought at the breakfast table was "e-media",
but I am open to other suggestions. I also am putting it on the list,
because I am confident that others have had similar dilemmas, and that it
would be best if we had a standard word.

 Barry
 _____________________________________________________________________

  Barry Wellman         Professor of Sociology        NetLab Director
  wellman at chass.utoronto.ca  http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman

  Centre for Urban & Community Studies          University of Toronto
  455 Spadina Avenue    Toronto Canada M5S 2G8    fax:+1-416-978-7162
	     To network is to live; to live is to network
 _____________________________________________________________________


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