1. 1 ICIS 2002 ICIS 2002 (Virtual) Community Informatics Workshop Workshop Fiorella De Cindio Dip. Scienze dell’Informazione,Univ.Milano & Fondazione RCM - Rete Civica di Milano fiorella.decindio@unimi.it

2. 2 INDEXINDEX u The background u Free Nets, Community Networks, Civic Nets u... as Virtual Communities u Community Networking u... and Virtual Communities u Community Informatics

3. 3 INDEXINDEX u The background u Free Nets, Community Networks, Civic Nets u... as Virtual Communities u Community Networking u... and Virtual Communities u Community Informatics

4. 4 The background: the LIC The background: the LIC May 1994: the Civic Informatics Lab starts at DSI (computer science dept.), Univ.Milano u awarness of the role the ICT will play in shaping the society u need of developing independent research on the technologies for the Information Society and their social impact u need of educating the various components of the local community to approach the Internet as an interactive, peer-to-peer environment different from passive broadcasting media

5. 5 The background: RCM The background: RCM September 1994: starts the Milano Community Netwok - RCM u stronlgy inspired by the Free Nets, CNs, Civic Nets experiences in the U.S. and Canada u open to ALL the component of the local community, namely to the private sector too u the promoters as enablers of the social actors; citizens provide content, conceive projects and services - The slogan: “You are the network” u a registration policy and a “Galateo”- the rules of behavior shared by RCM members

6. 6 The background: FRCM The background: FRCM December 1998: RCM becomes a participatory Foundation u government bodies and the University: charter members u private enterprises (ICT): supporting members u citizens, no-profit associations, schools: participants all have representatives in the Board

7. 7 RCM and FRCM today RCM and FRCM today RCM: the community network FRCM: the body holding RCM 8 years after its starting, a radically different socio-political and technological context a debate about their mutual relationships a redefinition of the rules governing RCM and its relationship with FRCM

8. 8 The background: the VC class The background: the VC class 2000: the Computer Science Department which hosted the LIC and RCM as a kind of “foreign body” recognising the growing relevance of business communities, learning communities, communties of practice, ……… asks me to teach a course on Virtual Communties

9. 9 INDEXINDEX u The background u Free Nets, Community Networks, Civic Nets u... as Virtual Communities u Community Networking u... and Virtual Communities u Community Informatics

10. 10 Free Nets Free Nets St.Silicon Hospital  Cleveland Free Net  ……… NPTN u free access u freedom of content providing u bottom-up development u BBS technology

11. 11 u the empowerment of the local community and of the “sense of community” through the possibilities offered by ICT u ICT-based enabling environments u promoting “citizens participation in community affaires” (Schuler, 2000) the Seattle Community Network u for reducing distances between citizens and government (for “reiventing government”) the Santa Monica PEN (Public Electronic Network) Community & Civic Networks Community & Civic Networks

12. 12 RCM original mission to affirm on-line citizenship in terms of u access u participation by providing “ an on-line and free environment designed to promote and favor communication, cooperation and exchange of services among citizens and all public and private bodies (non-profit organizations, governmental institutions, and private companies) of the local community, opening at the same time the local community to the on-line communication with the other parts of the world”

13. 13 citizens & no-profit associations (civil society) public sector (Local Government) private sector (Market) an ambitious goal an ambitious goal

14. 14 citizens & no-profit associations (civil society) public sector (Local Government) private sector (Market) mixed public-private third sector free lances an ambitious goal an ambitious goal

15. 15 citizens & no-profit associations (civil society) public sector (Local Government) private sector (Market) mixed public-private third sector free lances a too ambitious goal a too ambitious goal

16. 16 citizens & no-profit associations (civil society) public sector (Local Government) private sector (Market) mixed public-private third sector free lances to provide support to the weakest components of the society for access (learning community) and participation (in shaping the network society) a more realistic goal a more realistic goal

17. 17 RCM today RCM today u 15,000 registered members 3,000-4,000 active u 200 public forums, moderated by volunteers u many schools u an associated site collects and gives services to 130 no-profit associations u relationships with the Local Government: 16 “direct lines” with the Province, including one with the President; one with the President of the City Council

18. 18 INDEXINDEX u The background u Free Nets, Community Networks, Civic Nets u... as Virtual Communities u Community Networking u... and Virtual Communities u Community Informatics

19. 19 u a peer-to-peer communication environment where u the content is provided by the community members u the shared interest is the “local” u the “local” adds the possibility to easily shift from the “virtual” to the “real” and this is particularly important for action: for going to cinema together, for organizing an happening or a political protest … as (local) Virtual Communties

20. 20 u it is impressive to realize how much knowledge about a town is within the smalltalks of a community of citizens (even though this knowledge is often spread and dispersed within their conversations) u citizens are the real experts u the CN provides a communication environment which allow citizens to share knowledge, experiences, projects … as (local) Virtual Communties

21. 21 Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995 The Knowledge Creating Company the Community Network as the The Knowledge Creating Virtual Town the talks of the community of citizens create civic intelligence … as (local) Virtual Communties

22. 22 the RCM mission today (work in progress) RCM wants to contribute to guarantee to every body the on-line citizenship right, both in terms of access and in participating to shape the Network Society by developing a local virtual community which encourages the use of the net to enhance communication, sharing of experiences and knowledge among citizens and between citizens and the other components of the local community: schools, no-profit associations, Local Government Bodies, and private companies. … as (local) Virtual Communties

23. 23 u provide information to their users and on-line services to their customers but fail in involving citizens u look like (digital) cities without (digital) inhabitants u citizens cannot be conceived as users of ICT-based applications as customers of on-line services citizens are owner of a sovereignty right J.J. Rousseau, Du Contrat Social Les maisons font la ville, mais les citoyens font la cité “Digital Cities” (Europe?)

24. 24 u Digital Cities provide information to their users and on-line services to their customers u Community Networks are Virtual Communities where citizens through conversations create knowledge a possible cross-fertilization a possible cross-fertilization

25. 25 a possible cross-fertilization a possible cross-fertilization Comunication the “first” Internet emails,newsgroups,MLs

26. 26 a possible cross-fertilization a possible cross-fertilization InformationInformation Comunication ftp the “first” Internet emails,newsgroups,MLs

27. 27 a possible cross-fertilization a possible cross-fertilization InformationInformation Comunication I web-phase: the “shop” sitesthe “first” Internet

28. 28 a possible cross-fertilization a possible cross-fertilization ServicesServices InformationInformation Integration Comunication I web-phase: the “shop” sites II web-phase: “web services” the “first” Internet

29. 29 a possible cross-fertilization a possible cross-fertilization ServicesServices InformationInformation Integration Comunication I web-phase: the “shop” sites II web-phase: “web services” the “first” Internet

30. 30 back to the future back to the future ServicesServices InformationInformation Community control over the quality of services Integration EnrichmentUpdating Comunication I web-phase: the “shop” sites II web-phase: “web services” III web-phase

31. 31 INDEXINDEX u The background u Free Nets, Community Networks, Civic Nets u... as Virtual Communities u Community Networking u... and Virtual Communities u Community Informatics

32. 32 Community Networking from the 3rd Global Congress of Citizens Networks (Montreal, Oct.02) Theme 1 Reference Document u connectivity and access as a right of citizenship for all u civic empowerment throught the possibilities offered by ICTs

33. 33 is giving people a chance of playing a role in shaping the Information Society: u the right of pursuing their own economic, social and cultural objectives; u the possibility of using ICT for facing with the enormous problems our society will be called to deal with (energy, environment, etc.) Community Networking

34. 34 extends Community Networks for including u Community Technology Centers u Telecenters u.......... inherits from CNs the ‘social’ aptitude not necessarly a virtual community u global / worldwide communties “a-geographical”, as virtual communities Community Networking Community Networking

35. 35 INDEXINDEX u The background u Free Nets, Community Networks, Civic Nets u... as Virtual Communities u Community Networking u... and Virtual Communities u Community Informatics

36. 36 Community Informatics Community Informatics is the application of ICTs to enable community process and the achievement of community objectives (such as overcoming “digital divides”), and supporting community based ICT enabled initiatives in community economic development, health, environmental and sustainable development, community focused learning and civic engagement and social justice. cf. the Cfp of this ICIS ‘02 workshop

37. 37 Community Informatics Community Informatics is the application of ICTs to enable community process and the achievement of community objectives (such as overcoming “digital divides”), and supporting community based ICT enabled initiatives in community economic development, health, environmental and sustainable development, community focused learning and civic engagement and social justice. cf. the Cfp of this ICIS ‘02 workshop

38. 38 Community Informatics Community Informatics is the application of ICTs to enable communties - both virtual and real - to pursue their goals only the application of ICTs ? any possibility of influencing their development?

39. 39 web technologies web technologies ServicesServices InformationInformation Community control over the quality of services Integration EnrichmentUpdating Comunication multi-media publishing, KM workflow, SingleSignOn, user profiling,… web forum weblogs community- ware

40. 40 web technologies web technologiesServicesServices InformationInformation Community control over the quality of services Integration EnrichmentUpdating Comunication weblogsweb forum community- ware

41. 41 is exploiting the know-how in community networks community networking virtual communities communties of practices within ICTs development Community Informatics Community Informatics

42. 42 now comes from Communities of Practices (i.e., from the “professional” side of CI) is (too) costly and/or (too) complex (cf. E.Wenger, 2001 - Supporting CoP: A Survey of community-oriented technologies ) the “social” side of CI (i.e., CNs & CN) can develop cheap (free/open-source sw) and easy-to-use applications (the AFCN call & award for a CN software) “communityware” “communityware”

43. 43 this role is fundamental for the success of CI ! once again, “back to future”: “people of ALL ages and walks of life can mold and channel its [of the pc] power to their own need” Community Informatics Community Informatics should have a chance to

44. 44 this role is fundamental for the success of CI ! once again, “back to future”: “people of ALL ages and walks of life can mold and channel its [of the pc] power to their own need” Community Informatics Community Informatics should have a chance to (Alan Kay) from this vision came two major revolutions in ICTs u window interface u object-oriented programming

45. 45 from individual empowerment (PC) to community empowerment (the Net) “communities of ALL nature and walks of life can mold and channel its [of the NET] power to their own need” !! CI may influence ICTs evolution ?? a claim and a question Community Informatics Community Informatics