A Suburban Communications Network: Recurrence of Use, Growth of Participation, and the Challenges of Sustainability

This paper presents findings from a longitudinal research project exploring the use of a local digital community noticeboard and the mechanisms that have worked to grow and sustain community participation in this communications network. The lessons learnt from this research include the importance of providing clear indication to community members that communications are being seen by the community, maintaining visibility of high interest community- building communications, and involving community organisers. In discussion of our research, we suggest that future design supports visibility of long-term communications, and provides an accessible place to make communications public (with less emphasis on linking individual identities)

Design Opportunities and Challenges in Indian Urban Slums-Community Communication and Mobile Phones

This thesis investigates the area of community communication for marginalized communities belonging to Indian urban slums. The aim of the thesis is to identify design challenges and opportunities for mobile based community communication services for residents of Indian urban slums. The thesis is based on two ethnographic field research done in urban slums of India. The research is qualitative in nature and is best identified as participatory bottom-up exploration. The research is grounded in the conceptual frameworks of Community Informatics, Communicative Ecology and Communities of Practices. The thesis discusses the existing practices of mobile phone's use amongst the residents of Indian urban slums, identifies the 'Human Nodes' in community communication at an Indian urban slums, presents design opportunities and challenges for community communication services for residents of Indian urban slums, and proposes a design concept called as 'Asynchronous Voice based Community Communication Service' for residents of Indian urban slums

A qualitative analysis of local community communications

This paper explores how people communicate in reference to local interests and suggests information and communication technology (ICT) design for enhancement of local community networks. Qualitative data was gathered from participant observations of local community collective action and open interviews with active community members. Data analysis revealed concepts, leading to categories in relation to local interactions and interests. Design suggestions consider introducing people to local community private-strategic activity via public displays that indicate simple entry points to active participation, and creating information collections according to local community perspectives for long-term reference