The Community Informatics (CI) track covers the
study of applying of Information and Communications Technologies
(ICT) to the social, economic, political or cultural goals of communities.
CI as an approach begins with the perspective that ICT can provide
a set of resources and tools that individuals and communities can
use to pursue their goals in areas such as local community development,
cultural affairs, civic activism, and community based support groups
and environmental initiatives. CI takes into account the design
of the social system and culture within which the technology resides,
as well as the technology system with which it interacts.
As such "CI is a technology strategy or discipline which links
economic and social development efforts at the community level with
emerging opportunities in such areas as electronic commerce, community
and civic networks and telecentres, electronic democracy and on-line
participation, self-help and virtual health communities, advocacy,
cultural enhancement and others" (Gurstein, 2000)
We welcome papers that contain original ideas and examples of practical
application and implementation of information technology in CI contexts.
The CI approach integrates the insights of Sociology, Social Psychology
and Anthropology with the broader understanding of applied systems
and there is a considerable interest in linking these understandings
into the remarkably parallel processes of "virtual" communities.
Community Informatics
Abstracts
