Cybersociology Forum at UH with Microsoft's in-house Sociologist

1. Cybersociology Forum at UH with Microsoft's in-house Sociologist Marc A. SmithMarc Smith is a senior research sociologist at Microsoft Research specializing in the social org anization of online communities and computer mediated interaction. He founded and leads the Community Technologies Group at MSR. He is the co-editor of Communities in Cyberspace (Routledge), a collection of essays exploring the ways identity; interaction and social order develop in online groups.Smith's research focuses on computer-mediated collective action: the ways group dynamics change when they take place in and through social cyberspaces. Many “groups” in cyberspace produce public goods and organize themselves in the form of a commons (for related papers see: http://www.research.microsoft.com/~masmith). Smith's goal is to visualize these social cyberspaces, mapping and measuring their structure, dynamics and life cycles. He has developed a web interface http://netscan.research.microsoft.com) to the "Netscan" engine that allows researchers studying Usenet newsgroups to get reports on the rates of posting, posters, cross-posting, thread length and frequency distributions of activity. Lectures and Videoconferences -March 17-18, 2008 [REGISTRATION REQUIRED in all events) Computer-mediated Collective Action - March 17, 1:30-3 pm, Hemenway Theater; 4-6pm at George 113A (with videoconference to the Philippines) *Tools for Managing Online Communities - March 18, 9:45am-12nn, KUY Rm 201 (*with videoconference to UH Hilo, Maui CC, Kauia CC, Windward CC and Leeward CC) Presented by the Graduate Sociological Students Association and the Department of Sociology, with support from the Assistive Technology Centers of Hawaii and the Center on Philippine Studies. Funded (in part) by the University of Hawaii Student Fee Program Activity Board.

2. Computer-mediated collective actionMarch 17, 2008 (Monday)1:30-3 pm, Hemenway Theater*4-6pm -George Hall Rm 113A (*with videoconference to the Philippines) • Collective action, social networks, and interactionist sociology can be integrated with information technology techniques like data mining and information visualization to systematically study these changes.  Online communication tools like email, SMS, and IM are now routine parts of many people's lives.  Novel forms of communication like blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, and folksomomies are attracting growing attention and labor contributions. Studies of these computer-mediated social spaces reveal patterns and structures that highlight specialized social roles and complex ecologies of their interactions.  Participating groups: GSSA -Department of Sociology Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii AIM-World Bank Global Distance Learning Center Philippine E-learning Society Center on Philippine Studies Register via cybersociology08@yahoo.com Presented by the Graduate Sociological Students Association and the Department of Sociology, with support from the Assistive Technology Centers of Hawaii and the Center on Philippine Studies. Funded (in part) by the University of Hawaii Student Fee Program Activity Board (SAFPB).

3. Tools for managing online communitiesMarch 18, 10am-12nn, KUY 201 Speakers: Dr Marc Smith, Microsoft Research Ms Vicky Garchitorena, President, Ayala Foundation, GILAS, Philippines Online community and social media are now key elements of many Internet business plans.  Several tools and management practices can make online communities return more on the investment organizations make in hosting facilities and employee time.  Information visualization of data mined patterns of behavior of contributors and collective spaces are reviewed to provide a guide to effective deployment and management of online communities for businesses. Programme: 9:45am -Registration 10:00 -Lecture: Dr Marc Smith 10:40 -Case study from the Philippines: Ms Vicky Garchitorena 11:10 -Question & Answer 11:40 -Synthesis 11:50 -Acknowledgments /Closing remarks LIVE VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE TO UH HILO, MAUI CC, KAUIA CC, WINDWARD CC AND LEEWARD CC. Register via cybersociology08@yahoo.com Presented by the Graduate Sociological Students Association and the Department of Sociology, with support from the Assistive Technology Centers of Hawaii and the Center on Philippine Studies. Funded by the University of Hawaii Student Fee Program Activity Board (SAFPB).

4. Cybersociology forum at UH with Dr Marc Smith Microsoft Research Marc A. Smithwww.research.microsoft.com/~masmith Marc Smith is a senior research sociologist at Microsoft Research specializing in the social org anization of online communities and computer mediated interaction. He founded and leads the Community Technologies Group at MSR.He is the co-editor of Communities in Cyberspace (Routledge), a collection of essays exploring the ways identity; interaction and social order develop in online groups.Smith's research focuses on computer-mediated collective action: the ways group dynamics change when they take place in and through social cyberspaces. Many “groups” in cyberspace produce public goods and organize themselves in the form of a commons (for related papers see: http://www.research.microsoft.com/~masmith). Smith's goal is to visualize these social cyberspaces, mapping and measuring their structure, dynamics and life cycles. He has developed a web interface http://netscan.research.microsoft.com) to the "Netscan" engine that allows researchers studying Usenet newsgroups to get reports on the rates of posting, posters, crossposting, thread length and frequency distributions of activity.This research offers a means to gather historical data on the development of social cyberspaces and can be used to highlight the ways these groups differ from, or are similar to, face-to-face groups. Smith is applying this work to the development of a generalized community platform for Microsoft, providing a web based system for groups of all sizes to discuss and publish their material to the web.Smith received a B.S. in International Area Studies from Drexel University in Philadelphia in 1988, an M.Phil. in social theory from Cambridge University in 1990, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA in 2002.