Social Norms in Virtual Worlds of Computer Games

Immersing in the virtual world of the Internet, information and communication technologies are changing the human being. In spite of the apparent similarity of on-line and off-line, social laws of their existence are different. According to the analysis of games, based on the violation of the accepted laws of the world off-line, their censoring, as well as the cheating, features of formation and violations of social norms in virtual worlds were formulated. Although the creators of the games have priority in the standardization of the virtual world, society as well as players can have impact on it to reduce the realism. The violation of the prescribed rules by a player is regarded as cheating. And it is subjected to sanctions, but the attitude toward it is ambiguous, sometimes positive. Some rules are formed as a result of the interaction between players

Homo Virtualis: existence in Internet space

The study of a person existence in Internet space is certainly an actual task, since the Internet is not only a source of innovation, but also the cause of society's transformations and the social and cultural problems that arise in connection with this. Computer network is global. It is used by people of different professions, age, level and nature of education, living around the world and belonging to different cultures. It complicates the problem of developing common standards of behavior, a system of norms and rules that could be widely accepted by all users. On the other hand, the Internet space can be viewed as a new form of existence where physical laws do not work, and in connection with this, social ones are often questioned. This paper focuses on how social norms regulate relations in Internet space. The authors represents the typology of deviant behavior in the network. The empirical basis of the research includes the sociological survey of students of the senior courses in the Institute of Computer Science and Technology of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Sociological survey allows to identify students’ understanding of Internet space. The selection of students is conditioned by the fact that IT professionals are considered simultaneously as ordinary users of the network and as future professionals in this field

ONLINE FORUMS: COMMUNICATION MODEL, CATEGORIES OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION REGULATION AND NORMS OF BEHAVIOR

Purpose of the study: The paper addresses the issue of regulating Internet communication activities in the context of online forums. The study aims to create a forum communication model identifying the areas subject to social regulation and defining the most common types of norms Methodology: The study draws upon the semiotic method to develop a new communication model based on classical theories. Quantitative empirical studies are also used. The rules and guidelines of 1,205 online forums were analyzed to identify the most common norms. Main Findings: Communicators and moderators access the forum communication space via user accounts and create a sign system. Some categories, such as a ban on deceptive or offensive content, are similar to those used in offline life. Other regulations are Internet-specific in that they are determined by inherent challenges of online communication (for example, account cloning) or by the way a forum is structured. Applications of this study: The findings related to the forum rules are presented in a summarized manner, although the rules vary slightly in reality, depending on the forum topic. The prevalence of deviant behaviors on online forums was also beyond the scope of this study. The study was based on the rules of Russian- and English-speaking forums, and it should be noted that language differences could influence the results. Social Implications: The evolving social interactions on the Web require regulations, which can differ significantly from those used offline. The study of social norms on the Internet allows us to trace what types of online behavior are now considered deviant and examine the current potential of Internet self-regulation. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study developed a new communication model for categorizing online communication norms. Major categories of online communication behavior regulation were identified and the most popular types of social norms were determined

A comparative study of social media networks among higher education students

This study aims to compare how students perceive and use social media networks (SMNs) in both Omani and Russian higher education institutions. An extensive literature survey was conducted through which the content of the questionnaire was compiled in English, validated for its content, clarity and accuracy by Russian and Omani reviewers and then translated. Data was collected from 837 undergraduate Russian and Omani students using online Google Forms. The results indicate a moderate level of SMNs use in both Higher Education Institution (HEIs) contexts with cross-platform mobile applications at the top of list of the SMNs used by both groups for social connections and multimedia sharing. The overall perceptions towards SMNs seem to be neutral among Russian and Omani students followed by positive perceptions. The study recommends that teachers in both countries provide 'attractive' academic content through a social and multimedia design approach

The Language of Human-Machine Communication. Technology and Language

This essay for the inaugural issue of Technology and Language discusses the problem of finding an optimal form of human-machine communication. In the ongoing search for an alien mind, humanity seems to find it not in the infinities of space, but in its own environment. Changes in the language of human-machine interaction made it understandable not only to trained specialists but to every household. In the course of time, home appliances and devices have developed their language abilities even more and reached a very advanced level – by way of status indicators, displays, emergency sound and color signals. The transition to computer-assisted communication brought about a great diversity of human expression forms translated into the discrete digital language of technologies. According to some prognoses, the first human-robot marriage might be registered in the future, however, such a union is not the only possible human-machine allianc

Parent Chats in Education System: During and after the Pandemic Outbreak

Digital technology has significantly changed the face of education by, among other things, creating many communication channels between the participants in the process. This study reveals the role of parent chat rooms in supporting the learning process. The pandemic experience has shown that parent chat rooms can serve a controlling and regulatory function, noting problems and inconsistencies in the learning system. The chats contain background routine messages related to informing and “events”, that is, messages of bewilderment, resistance, elation, and other emotional reactions. A total of 143 chats were analyzed, and 326 communication events were identified. During the regular period, the basic topics, including chat rules and regulations (22%), homework (20%), school activities and holidays (24%), and behavioral problems (24%), were evenly distributed, while during the distance learning period, the assignment problems (36%) and technical problems (28%) came to the fore. In the traditional offline period, parents are not direct participants in the educational process, so the information in the chats sometimes comes in a one-sided or distorted form; however, parental activity can serve to improve the educational system and monitor the processes taking place

Shared Micromobility: Between Physical and Digital Reality

Moving around the city is a problem for the development of most megacities. Due to digital technologies, each city dweller is connected by information and communication channels with the city infrastructure, receiving information and choosing the available modes of movement. Shared micromobility in terms of digital solutions is a convenient service, while reducing congestion and emissions, and preventing air and noise pollution; however, the physical and social dimension of the city is experiencing problems, with growing public health concerns, high overall environmental costs, clutter in the streets, etc. This presentation presents a case study of the relatively recent emergence of shared micromobility in St. Petersburg and attitudes towards its users. In addition to the direct process of use and the experience gained, the factors that determine the social influence and perception of micromobility are highlighted. The highest ratings of the digital component and the rather high importance of such factors as environmental friendliness and safety make it possible to recommend the creation of an interactive digital system that unites riders

Shared Micromobility: Between Physical and Digital Reality

Moving around the city is a problem for the development of most megacities. Due to digital technologies, each city dweller is connected by information and communication channels with the city infrastructure, receiving information and choosing the available modes of movement. Shared micromobility in terms of digital solutions is a convenient service, while reducing congestion and emissions, and preventing air and noise pollution; however, the physical and social dimension of the city is experiencing problems, with growing public health concerns, high overall environmental costs, clutter in the streets, etc. This presentation presents a case study of the relatively recent emergence of shared micromobility in St. Petersburg and attitudes towards its users. In addition to the direct process of use and the experience gained, the factors that determine the social influence and perception of micromobility are highlighted. The highest ratings of the digital component and the rather high importance of such factors as environmental friendliness and safety make it possible to recommend the creation of an interactive digital system that unites riders

Self-Regulation in E-Learning Environment

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the accelerated spread of e-learning around the world. In e-learning, self-regulation becomes more relevant than ever. Reducing the influence of traditional features of the face-to-face learning environment and increasing the impact of the e-environment place high demands on students’ self-regulation. The author’s self-regulation e-learning model emphasizes the position of e-learning at the intersection of the electronic environment and the learning environment. We observe a collision of the concepts of these two environments. The Internet is a more common environment that provokes the use of unacceptable tools and hints, which is a logical consequence of such behavior to pass the test, and not to gain knowledge. Therefore, the most important thing is that students have their own goals and strategies, and use the large resources of the electronic environment for development, and not for cheating. The authors conducted a survey (N = 767), which showed that students rate their self-efficacy of online learning higher in the e-environment than in the offline learning environment. Self-regulation indicators are the highest in the field of environment, and the lowest when setting goals and in time management

Digital Solutions to the Problems of Chinese Students in St. Petersburg Multilingual Space

Multilingual space is considered as one of the most important parts of the cultural environment that becomes a challenge for international students. The research ex-amined the multilingual space of St. Petersburg from the perspective of young people from China. Included observation, short interviews and analysis of Chi-nese freshmen essays serve as a source for the formation of a database of multi-lingual objects of everyday life of Chinese students and reveal language problems as the main challenges in the city multilingual space for a foreigner. The authors proposed an approach dividing the multilingual space of the city into space of communication and the "physical space of the language", existing vertically in three levels (city, university and personal areas). Expansion of the multilingual space at all levels due to the digital environment can significantly improve the language adaptation of students Although a coherent digital environment that provides the Chinese dimension to a multilingual environment does not yet exist. However, such elements as specially developed electronic guides and dictionaries, maps, augmented reality applications, communication platforms in social networks, etc. contribute to its future creatio