Online Communities Flashcards
Use & selection of online communities, Interacting with online communities, Organisations & online communities
What is an online community
A group of people who communicate over the internet about common interests
What are the 6 commonly used types of online communities
Social media
Blog
Wiki
Chatroom/instant messaging
Podcasts
Forums
What is Social media & what is it used for
Used to share content & communicate with others (e.g. facebook)
Can create groups, often based around locations & hobbies - to communicate news & stories with others who share these interests.
There are also professional media sites, such as Linkedln
What is a Blog
Blogs and vlogs let people regularly share information, such as news & opinions with others on a topic of interest
Others can then comment on the videos or blog posts to create a dialogue between people with shared interests
What is a Wiki
Wikis are created & maintained by online communities.
Groups of people with shared interests add & edit content on a site to ensure the information is up to date & accurate
Most famous wiki is Wikipedia
What is a Chatroom/Instant messaging
Chatroom - a website where users can communicate by posting short text messages these are viewable by anyone in the chatroom
Instant messaging - Lets users write short text messages but directly to a person/group it is slightly more private
What are Podcasts
Audio (sometimes video) files posted to the internet for download. They are normally produced as a series on a particular topic
What are Forums
Also known as a message board.
A forum is a website where users can post messages and questions publicly for other users of the site to read and respond to.
e.g Reddit
Why can online communities cause implications
Individuals & organisations make extensive use of online communities but this can affect our lives and how we work as many are positive but some are negative
What are the implications of online communities for Individuals
Privacy - personal information accessible by other users & can be misused by others cyberbullying
Cost - usually free for users & users need to accept advertising
Meeting needs - allows users to communicate with others, organise events, etc.
User experience - ease of use, accessibility, performance, availability
Security - danger of accounts being hacked and data stolen & info could be used for identity and bank fraud
In more detail how can user experience be an implication for individuals when using online communities
Ease of use - services often have advanced features but are still easy to use.
Accessibility - can provide companionship for individuals isolated due to disability or other personal circumstances
Performance - can be used on a range of devices effectively
Availability - being able to use offline or with limited connectivity is a challenge
What are the implications of online communities for organisations
Customer needs - communicating with customers is easier
Security - IT security staff & procedures are required
Current systems - may need to transfer data from existing systems
Productivity - can cause distractions for employee
Implementation - extensive testing needed to ensure no errors
Working practices - changes the way we work
Employee/customer experience - improves their experience of a business due to good communication
Cost - implementing own systems has large development costs
