Chapter 7 Virtual Communities Reference Book By: Gary Schneider

Virtual/Online Communities The Web makes it possible for people and organizations to form online communities that are not limited by geography. Individuals and companies with common interests can meet online and discuss issues, share information, generate ideas and develop valuable relationships. A virtual community also called Web community or online community, is a gathering place for people and businesses that does not have a physical existence. Many sociologists believe that the communication and relationship, that happens online are similar to those occur in physical communities. Due to the popularity of online communities, people were experiencing communities with different interest as to photography, gardening, pet, gaming etc. This is how social networking emerges that lets people to interact on different interest on different communities. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Social Networking A social networking site is a Web site that allows individuals to create and publish profiles, create a list (on common interest) of other users with whom they share connections, control that list, and monitor similar lists made by other users. LinkedIn is a social networking sites where individuals from all professionals create profile (like a resume). The purpose is to connect with people with similar professionals. This helps to get involved in a group project or to get hired by an organization. YouTube popularized the inclusion of videos in social networking sites. Other examples of popular social networking sites: Facebook, Google+ The general idea behind all of these sites is that people are invited to join existing members who think they would be valuable additions to the community. This way a set of connections is built that works as a valuable resource even for a business. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Web Logs (Blogs) Blogs are Web sites that contain discussion on current issues and events written/authored by individuals. On the Web sites, organizations may have a separate page for blogs, so that they can discuss on current issues on products and services and invite the current customers to participate in the discussions. It means customers are given opportunities to provide feedback/suggestion on the products/services. Since blogs encourage similar minded people to discuss on common issues, it act as another type of social networking sites. Forums vs. Blogs http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-forum-and- blog This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Social Networking Web Sites for Shoppers & Learners Social shopping refers to the practice of bringing buyers and sellers together in a social network to facilitate retail sales. Craiglist is one of the first of these to include information on available products and services to buy and sell as per different locations. Social shopping does not facilitate payments. It is just a meeting point among buyers and sellers Virtual learning network is another kind of social network that works as a meeting point among teachers and students. It is specially used as a tool to facilitate distance learning. It includes tools such as bulletin/announcement boards, chat rooms, discussion rooms/blogs, lecture resources etc. Examples: Blackboard, Google Classroom etc. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Revenue Models: Advertising-Supported Social Networking Sites Social networking sites that draw enough visitors can generate advertising revenue, especially compared to the costs of running such a site. For advertisers, these are great places to post advertisement since they can touch different customer bases. Sites that have higher numbers of visitors can charge more for advertising on the site. Stickiness is also an important element of a site’s attractiveness to advertisers. One rough measure of stickiness is how long each user spends at the site in a month. Web sites with high degrees of stickiness used to obtain up- front cash payments from advertisers. In recent years, social networking sites charge advertising fees as a percentage of sales generated from sales leads on their sites. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Online Auctions: Auction Basics Online auctions function as a type of online communities where sellers and bidders meet. An auction site can charge bidders (buyers) and sellers to participate, and it can charge for advertisements. People interested in trading specific items can form a separate space that advertisers will pay extra to reach. In an auction, a seller offers an item(s) for sale, but does not establish a price. This is called “putting an item up for bid”. Potential buyers (bidders) are given opportunities to look the items, then they offer bids. The whole process is managed by an auctioneer. In the case of online auction, an online site acts as an auctioneer. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Online Auctions: General Consumer Auctions The most successful consumer auction Web site is eBay. Sellers and buyers must register with eBay. Sellers pay eBay a listing fee and a percentage of the final selling price. Buyers pay nothing to eBay. In addition to paying basic fees, sellers can choose from a variety of enhanced extra-cost services, including having their auctions in bolded type and featured in lists of preferred auctions. To demonstrate seller reliability, eBay instituted a rating system. Buyers can submit ratings of sellers after doing business with them. These ratings are attached with sellers’ name. In eBay auctions, bidders must constantly monitor the bidding actively if they want to win the auction. All auctions have a minimum bid increment, the amount by which one bid must exceed the previous bid. An auction is finally won after the time to bid ends. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Online Auctions: B2B Auctions Unlike consumer online auctions, B2B auctions evolved to meet a specific existing need. Many manufacturing companies periodically need to dispose of excess inventory. Many times, unforeseen changes in customer demand for a product can compel manufacturers to get rid off of the excess raw materials and finished goods. Example: http://bstock.com/marketplaces/ To do this, a firm typically have liquidation specialists/brokers to find buyers. Online auctions are the logical extension of these inventory liquidation activities. Large companies create its own auction site that is supervised by the liquidation specialists. Small companies use third-party web auction sites that act as liquidation brokers. Online auctions can be used to hire people on temporary basis. For example: Hospitals can post job circular on hiring nurses mentioning standard wages. The nursing agencies can post bids (a bit cheaper or equal to the standard but efficient services) to secure temporary contracts for their nursing services. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Online Auctions: Services Auction escrow services: To defend buyers from fake sellers, escrow services are available. It is an independent party that holds buyer payments until the buyer receives the purchased items and is satisfied with those. Sometimes, escrow services receive goods from sellers, inspect those and delivers to buyers. Whatever the type of service, they charge fees from buyers. Example: Escrow.com and eDeposit Auction directory and information services: Some firms provide auction directory services on Web sites. These information sites publishes e-mail newsletter with articles about developments in the online auction industry. It provides guidance for new auction participants and helpful hints and tips for experienced buyers and sellers. Example: AuctionBytes This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.

Online Auctions: Services Auction software: For buyers: Auction software for buyers observes auction progress until the last second of the auction clock. Just as the auction is about to expire, the software places a bid high enough to win the auction. The software synchronizes its internal clock to the auction site clock and execute its bid with maximum precision. Example: Sniping software. For sellers: Auction management software for sellers can help with automate tasks such as image hosting, advertising, page design, feedback tracking, e-mail management etc. Using these tools, sellers can create attractive layouts for their pages and manage auctions. This slide discusses recent developments in networking technologies. Ask students to give other examples of convergence. How fast is broadband today? Do all of the students have broadband? Note that in 2000, typical Internet access speeds were 56 kbps over a telephone line, costing 25 cents per kilobit, while today broadband speeds are 1-15 mbps, costing less than 1 cent per kilobit. Are students aware of how fast their Internet connections are at home, school, or work? Ask students if they know the speed of their cell phone’s Internet connection. The point here is to try and raise student awareness of telecommunications systems, and their capacities.