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Online Communities

The comprehensive and sophisticated nature of online communities is frequently overshadowed by negative reporting on the dangers of addiction to virtual gaming. In reality, many more academic, professional and social communities have grown and developed online with the rising accessibility afforded by high speed broadband connectivity.

Our field trip to Virtual Ability, founded in 2007 to provide support for people with disabilities in virtual worlds, offers an insight to a dynamic and active community that became established in Second Life very rapidly. Now encompassing Virtual Ability Island, Healthinfo Island and Cape Able and with over 1,000 members of varying abilities it provides a wide range of services and supports.

We will look at different types of communities, their ‘rules of engagement’, regulations, conventions, and the specific etiquette required to provide structure and to support the work of their members.

Preparation for this class

Please read the texts (approx 10 minutes).
This must be completed before class where we will be discussing the following questions:

  1. What is the relationship between real and virtual (online) communities?
  2. Why is it important to consider the rules and etiquette of a virtual community?
  3. How are online communities developed and maintained?

Essential reading

  • Dreamscape, D. (2015, February 27). Class 5: Virtual Ability Island. [Blog post.]
    This report on the class visit to Virtual Ability Island in 2015 opens with an overview from Gentle Heron, its founder, and includes a summary of the Q&A that followed.
    (Reading time 6 minutes).
  • O’Connor, J. (2017, March 8). Class 5: Virtual Ability. [Blog post.]
    A report from a later class visit that includes interesting descriptions from some residents.
    (Reading time 4 minutes).

Additional reading