[Air-l] we need a new word?

[Sue Cranmer]

Hi

I'm still happy to describe my research in terms of the range of evolving
services provided via the internet. Am I missing something? And could there
be cultural differences anyway? Many families I interviewed don't have the
money to stay online and use IM and so on, they limit it's affordances to
those they relate to learning such as web sites for homework etc.

Best wishes
Sue



-----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: 19 March 2005 15:45
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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