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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Craig,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To answer your query, you might take a look at what
is becoming known as "Community Informatics" which is the cross-over point
between Informatics and community research and includes in its "Community
of Practice" both practitioners and academics. There is quite a lively
group of individuals in the UK (and elsewhere) including CIRA (Community
Informatics Research Associates) at the U. of Teeside and several courses in
Information Studies, Computer Science and Sociology programs in about a dozen or
so UK universities (at last count).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The book I edited "Community Informatics: Enabling
Communities with Information and Communications Technologies", Idea Group, 2000
<A
href="http://www.idea-group.com/books">http://www.idea-group.com/books</A> is
now available at a discounted price from the publisher and includes a range of
accounts of Geo-local communities becoming enabled with ICTs. A further
book with similar contents is due out later this year edited by the Teeside
group.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There is also a quite active email list <A
href="mailto:CommunityInformatics@vcn.bc.ca">CommunityInformatics@vcn.bc.ca</A>
which you (and others) are invited to join which includes both academics and
practitioners and representation from 40 or so countries. To sub, send a
message</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>to: <A
href="mailto:majordomo@vcn.bc.ca">majordomo@vcn.bc.ca</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>message:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>subscribe communityinformatics</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>regs</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mike Gurstein</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(Visiting) Professor: School of
Management</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>New Jersey Institute of Technology</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Newark NJ USA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael Gurstein & Associates</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Vancouver, BC CANADA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=MURRAYC@hope.ac.uk href="mailto:MURRAYC@hope.ac.uk">CRAIG MURRAY</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=air-l@aoir.org
href="mailto:air-l@aoir.org">air-l@aoir.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 28, 2001 3:56
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Air-l] Re: networking
communities</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Hi Kate and all.<BR><BR>> It would be lovely if you could share what
you have, perhaps by >posting a link to your work to the AOIR list. What
are you aiming to >do?<BR><BR>I'm researching a research proposal, in which
I'd like to look at the use of information technology by the Deaf community.
In particular, I'd like to introduce networked computing in two local deaf
clubs in England (30 miles apart) and explore how these extended networks
impact upon the quality of life of members. While there are already
established dicussion lists with a world-wide membership, I am interested to
see how (if?) CMC between groups of people who live in geographical proximity
to one another enriches their lives. Thanks to all who have sent
responses to my initial request for references/information. I would appreciate
any more help that members can provide, and will provide a summary of
responses to the list in due course. <BR><BR>Best wishes, Craig.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Craig D. Murray<BR>Lecturer in Psychology<BR>Department of
Psychology<BR>Liverpool Hope University College<BR>Hope
Park<BR>Liverpool<BR>L16 9JD<BR>UNITED KINGDOM</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>TEL: +44 (0)151 291 3883<BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>