Social software

Draft

Definition

• Social software enables people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form online communities. ([Wikipedia], 16:06, 6 July 2006 (MEST))

Types of social software

In a way, any sort of CMC can be called social software since communication is inheritantly social, e.g.

• Any sort of groupware
• Virtual environments
• MMORPG-like games
• ....

We prefere more narrow definition of social software that includes application s such as:

• Shared links (social bookmarking) like del.icio.us or

• File sharing like FlickR (pictures).

• Relation web services and sofware like FOAF, frienster, Tribe, LinkedIn, Orkut. These website usually specialize on some kind of relations (professional, interests, dating, ..)

Social software in education

To enhance social presence

• Garrison and Anderson developed an according model of e-learning that they refer to as the Community of inquiry model

Links

• The Wikipedia Social Software article provides a good overview.
• On Social Sofware
• Stowe Boyd, Are you read for social software ? (good introduction too).

Web Sites, blogs, etc.

• Many to many blog
• Pasta and vinegar blog. Lots of interesing news !