Explores communication ethnographically in six text-based virtual realities through four items of jargon: spoof, spam, lurk, and lag. Suggests that articulated aesthetics serve as rules for proper behavior, markers of experience and belonging, metaphors for poetic expression, and resources for play and challenge within the community. (RS)

Provides an overview of the Gulfnet Academic network, set in the context of development in Saudi Arabia and the establishment of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). Goals and objectives of KACST are presented, Gulfnet members in the Gulf States are listed, and Gulfnet management, services, and facilities are discussed. (JKP)

Describes how a specific online program, the Online Writing Laboratory (OWL) of Purdue University, aids the teaching of writing. (SR)

Assesses the related effects of anticipated future interaction and different communication media (computer-mediated versus face-to-face communication) on the communication of relational intimacy and composure. Shows that the assignment of long-term versus short-term partnerships has a larger impact on anticipated future interaction reported by…

Explores effects of electronically decentralizing writing centers. Suggests that asynchronous conferencing promises to simplify scheduling but complicate supervision, while its potential effects on workplace ethos are more difficult to predict. Explores the potential for information technology to preserve conference talk. Concludes that a writing…

Analyzed the types and magnitude of linguistic adaptation occurring during spoken and multimodal human-computer error resolution. Researchers collected samples of users' spoken and written input immediately before and after recognition errors and at different spiral depths. Results indicated that human language changes in at least three different…

Investigates the structure and composition of a naturalistic rumor chain that surfaced on a computer-mediated communication discussion group. Finds that rumormongering is a collective, problem-solving interaction that is sustained by a combination of anxiety, uncertainty, and credulity. (CR)

Presents WebShaman, an application built to demonstrate how a distributed virtual prototyping system with a client/server architecture, could support geographically distant designer/customer communication. Provides an overview of smart virtual prototyping; discusses implementation of synchronous collaboration via the World Wide Web; and assesses…

Argues that traditional understandings of ownership and intellectual property fall short of describing synchronous electronic discourse. Asks how to develop property rights and guidelines for fair use when what would be cited belongs to a pseudonymous or anonymous group. Claims that feminist theory provides a way to understand the importance of…

Discusses computer-mediated communications for linking educators conducting research and educational activities and describes the development and evaluation of the DR-ED listserv for medical education. Evaluation includes a subscriber demographic profile, a content analysis of the messages posted, and a subscriber survey. (Author/LRW)

Suggests computer networking can support the essential purposes of the collaborative-writing movement, offering opportunities for sharing writing. Notes that literacy teachers are exploring the connectivity of computer networking through numerous designs that use either real-time or asynchronous communication. Discusses new roles for students and…

Presents research to support the argument that patterns of interaction deeply entrenched within a patriarchal system cannot be undermined simply by offering access to a new medium such as computer-mediated communication. Claims that, in moving away from traditional discourse forms that oppress and marginalize women, scholars run the risk of those…

Finds computer-mediated environments pose a special challenge to legal and cultural protections and that these environments are unprecedented in the way commercially valuable information can be generated in their very use. Contends current discussions about privacy in computer-mediated environments have overlooked the potential of common law and…

Notes that the process of electronic conferencing can result in activity not readily apparent as leading to productive writing behaviors, which reintroduces the tension between process and product into composition studies. Argues for a broader notion of writing and urges attention to the transformative power of electronic conferencing to enable…

Comparison of process and outcome variables for in-class teams (80 students) with interuniversity teams using computer-mediated communication (36 students) revealed that electronic groups may negate some benefits of collaborative learning (e.g., they were less satisfied with group process). However, electronic groups achieved higher overall level…