25-5 |
Creating virtual communities |
C. A. ROBERTS and J. C. Liu. USDA/FDA Foodborne Illness Education Information Center, USDA-ARS-National Agricultural Library, 10301 Baltimore Ave., Rm. 105, Beltsville, MD 20705-2351 The Internet has widened our horizons and increased possibilities to share information and work jointly on projects with other professionals who reside a great distance away. At the same time, shrinking budgets lessen opportunities for face to face interaction. While many people use the Internet for information gathering, fewer have harnessed its interactive abilities to do actual work. This discussion will look at pros and cons and lessons learned in creating online communities, from an unmoderated high volume listserve to a small planned virtual community. Examples of projects that could use such technology will also be presented.
Session 25, The world of outreach
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