online communications

online communications

1. online communities

   • People who are computer literate, and have the equipment, can form groups or ‘societies’ online. These groups are known as online communities , and they provide a place for people with similar interests to come together and exchange views. Where the community involves a group of people who keep in up-to-date contact with each other, they may be referred to as a network of friends . Sometimes the communities exist in a virtual world online. This is an unreal world created by the computer. Popular examples include SecondLife, Twinity and Habbo. The World of Warcraft virtual world is another popular example of a large interactive gaming virtual world which supports multi-player gaming. Introduction One of the most common reasons for using the internet is to communicate. In this section you will fi nd out about some of the different ways people communicate online. Communicating online requires a special behaviour or etiquette, known as netiquette . This is a set of rules designed to preven

2. Contemporary social media

   • People with common interests tend to gather together to exchange views and put forward ideas. Often this takes the form of a club such as a sports club, or a society such as an historical society. However, the internet has had a dramatic impact on the way people communicate and share information.

3. information exchanges

   • Web logs (blogs). These are frequently updated online journals with diary-like entries which allow people to express their thoughts and feelings and give details of their daily activities. Typically, a blog includes text, photos and sometimes video.
   • Microblogging sites. These are sites which allows users to create and exchange really short text entries. A popular example of this type of site is Twitter™.
   • Wikis. These are websites that provide information that visitors to the site can extend and edit. They allow users to share information and are useful for research. The best-known example of a wiki is Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia which can be updated by contributors.
   • • chatrooms. Online communication within communities is sometimes referred to as chat . Some of the large interactive communities where people take part in the same conversation or type of chat at the same time are known as chatrooms .

4. Podcasts

   • Podcasts are a series of audio or video fi les that can be downloaded from the internet. If video is published in episodes like a blog, then this process is known as a vlog (video blogging). YouTube is an example of a video-sharing website where individuals can share vlogs.

5. virtual learning envirement

   • A school community may make use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) to distribute resources, support learning and assess progress online. A VLE is an education system based on web facilities. The system is a virtual world which mirrors the real world of education – it contains learning materials, tests, projects, lectures/lessons and allows interaction between teachers and learners. The system also records and tracks learners’ progress and performs other class management functions.
   • Sometimes the system can work in real time. Learners can communicate using microphones and speakers, or by text exchanges. At other times learners can be left to work at their own pace to meet specifi ed deadlines. Lectures and lesson notes, as well as exercises are all held on the system and can be accessed by the learner.
   • Learners ’hand in’ their work to their teacher electronically using the VLE. Teachers assess the work online and give feedback electronically via the VLE.

6. Social networking websites

   • Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter™, LinkedIn, Google+ and MySpace, allow members of the online community to interact and communicate by setting up a profi le . Users can then add links to friends’ profi les and post personal information, including photographs, videos, favourite music and blog entries.

7. Social networking

   • Social networking websites have changed the way that we communicate. They allow people to communicate interactively in real time anywhere in the world. Groups of likeminded people can share information, opinions and interests cheaply, normally for the cost of a broadband connection. Social networking provides a great way of staying in touch with friends and business contacts.

8. instant messaging

   • Instant messaging provides a way to exchange textual messages as an alternative to the telephone and at a fraction of the cost. As messages are sent in real time, responses can be received instantaneously. However, instant messaging does have its disadvantages: • emotions are better expressed in person and can sometimes be miscommunicated within an instant message that is sent quickly • viruses can be spread by instant messaging.

9. voice over protocol (voIP)

   • Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allows people to interact in real time using voice and/or video messaging, and is available between any two points in the world. For internet-only conversations, there is no additional cost at either end. Skype™ is an example of a service that uses VoIP.
   • Being able to contact relatives and business colleagues on the other side of the world at relatively low cost is the biggest benefit. VoIP software is often used by businesses for online conferences and meetings. This reduces travel costs, travel time (and therefore loss of productivity during this time) and the cost of hiring a venue.
   • As with all new technology, VoIP has its limitations: • Reliability. VoIP service is dependent on the quality and reliability of your broadband service and may not work if there is a power cut. • Voice quality. Voices can sometimes be distorted or there may be long pauses between questions and answers. • Security. As with all internet technologies, identity theft, viruses, spamming and phishing are all potential threats