Online Communities

Online communities are useful ways for people to share, interact and discuss information. There is generally a common cause or interest for people to be apart of an online community. These online stepping stones provide an individual with with ability to vocalise their opinons, beliefs and thoughts with just a click of a mouse.

Online communities enable us to become "active publishers of content" (Axel Bruns, week 6 podcast) which in turn creates a power within itself. This source of power allows us to experience and transend any physical limitations which would have been normally placed upon us.

These online communities have no boundaries. Online the individual is simply whatever they choose to contribute and share with others.

There are a few factors in order to consider when looking at these communities and deciding which of these are succesfull. There needs to be a focus of topics within this community. Without this focus of information there can be no direction and therefore no development of knowledge within the community. Following on from this there needs to be a well respected individua to coordinate the online community, making sure each member is encouraged to share information not only to this community, but other online communities.

Online communities enable an individual to step out of themselves. Limitations that were once placed upon them are lifted and in turn online communities are very strong. They enable us to find people who are interested in similar subjects and allow information to be developed, evaluated and shared.

References

Alex Bruns (2008). Queensland University of Technology, http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_29175_1 (accessed 29 April, 2008).