Communities: Communications, collaboration, and learning

In this tutorial, we will discuss communities, compare traditional and technology-enabled ones, and discuss some empirical strategies for formulating how to design software that supports online communities. Although a technology-enabled community does not necessarily need to be like a traditional community, one could learn a great deal about why and how human beings congregate by studying traditional communities. This knowledge is expected to be important in designing technologies that will enable efficient communications and learning in technology-based communities. This is also the reason, by the way, why the study of the design of office space that promotes communications and learning could benefit the planning of good online communities.