Understanding local community attachment, engagement and social support networks mediated by mobile technology

Kyungsik Han, Patrick C. Shih, Mary Beth Rosson, John M. Carroll

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding the impacts and consequences of information and communications technology in local communities through theoretical and practical approaches has long been studied. Among different types of technologies, mobile technology suggests new opportunities for community informatics because a growing number of people across different age groups have adopted smartphones, which have become an indispensable part of people's daily lives. Because mobile technology transcends the limitations of time and place, it expands the ways of accessing and interacting with local community information and lowers the barrier to participation. In this paper, we present our ongoing initiatives in community informatics including digital cultural heritage and local volunteer efforts mediated by mobile technology. We highlight how mobile technology, together with increased mobility, immediacy and social presence, shows a significant influence on local communities with respect to community identity, awareness and participation and also social support networks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)220-237
Number of pages18
JournalInteracting with Computers
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Software
  • Library and Information Sciences
  • Human-Computer Interaction

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