A patchwork of online community-based systems

Can social software be used to augment online individual social capital?

peter.mechant@ugent.be

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what is MICT ? research group for Media & ICT

part of University Ghent, department Communication Sciences

fundamental & applied research in the field of ICT and media spearheads of our research:

diffusion, implementation, adoption & acceptance of ICT innovation & consumption of ICT social consequences of ICT forecasting & assessment

URL http://www.mict.be

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what is IBBT ? Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology °2004 by Flemish government

MS development of highly competent human capital & carrying out multidisciplinary research for business & government

application domains: eHealth mobility & logistics eMedia eGovernment

URL http://www.ibbt.be

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1515overview

web2.0 – social software definition & typology for social software relationship social software & social capital

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internet: shift in terms of content and services

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web2.0 - features sociological(read/write web, empowerment, …)

technological(ajax, ruby on rails, lightweight programming models,syndication (rss), …)

economical(user generated content, the long tail, …)

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social software - definitions

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social software vs web2.0

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a definition for social software

software that enables communication through digital technologies during which people connect,

converse, collaborate, manage information and/or form online networks in a social, bottom-

up fashion

a) is mediated through digital technology; b) enables communication; c) helps people reach certain goals – it enables content(management), communication,

collaboration and community(forming); d) works bottom up.

Social software:

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typologies for social software: Gorissen

Interaction

HierarchyIndividual Group

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typologies for social software: Mayfield

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typologies for social software: Bydwad

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typologies for social software: Webb & Smith

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typologies for social software: 4 C’s

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how does social capital relate to this?

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social capital

Lin summarises social capital as: “resources embedded in a social structure that are

accessed and/or mobilised in purposive actions” (Lin, 2001, p. 29).

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dark side of social capital

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the strength of social software

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thank you for your attention!

More information:

email: peter.mechant@ugent.be

phone: 00 32 09/264 97 08

url: http://www.ibbt.be – http://www.mict.be