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:
- What is the relationship between real and virtual (online) communities?
- Why is it important to consider the rules and etiquette of a virtual community?
- 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
- Davis, D. (2018, March 14). Our Digital Selves: What we learn about ability from avatars. [Blog post.]
Report on Ethnographica, another Second Life community for people with disabilities. - O’Connor, J. (2017, May 17). Digital Utopia: the show.
A review of the exhibition held in the Virtual Ability Island Cape Able Gallery. The work was made by students on the BA in Visual Art (Sherkin Island). - Voelker-Morris, R&J. (2007). The Heron Sanctuary: An interview with Gentle Heron. Culture Work ISSN 1541-938X.
- Virtual Ability. (n.d.). Virtual Ability Island website.
The website for Virtual Ability Island has a range of information and references about the project.
Conclusion
The visit to Virtual Ability Island, and the generosity of the community who share their experiences with the class, provides a revealing portrait of life in this engaging community. The importance of having a virtual space, when you may be deprived of easy access to physical communities in the natural world, is detailed through the stories and shared experiences of the residents we meet.
Guest Speaker – Gentle Heron
Gentle Heron (Alice Kruger in the natural world) is Chairman of the Board, and the founder of Virtual Ability. She worked part time from home as a technical writer and editor for an education research firm for five years using adaptive office equipment. As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis, she found it increasingly difficult to participate in her real life community. No longer able to leave home to work, volunteer, or socialise with friends, she turned to virtual worlds to fulfil these basic human needs. Alice is the mother of three young adults with disabilities and has been a special education teacher. Her avatar in Second Life can stand and walk without crutches but frequently uses a wheelchair.
