Broadband neighborhoods: connected communities

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses concerns that home-computing and Internet use damage social capital and contribute to a loss of community. Based on survey and ethnographic data from "Netville", a wired neighborhood equipped with a broadband local network, this paper concludes that the Internet can be used to increase neighborhood social capital and the connectivity of local social networks.

REFERENCES

• 1: Graham, S., and Marvin, S. Telecommunications and the City. Routledge, New York NY, 1996.
• 2: Hampton, K. Grieving For a Lost Network. Mobilization, forthcoming. Available at http://www.mysocialnetwork.net
• 3: Hampton, K. and Wellman, B. Netville On-Line and Off-Line. American Behavioral Scientist 43, 3 (1999), 475-492.
• 4: Kraut, R., Lunmark, V., Patterson, M., Kiesler, S., Mukopadhyay, T., and Scherlis, W. Internet Paradox. American Psychologist 53, 9 (1998), 1017-1031.
• 5: Norman, N., and Erbring, L (2000). Internet and Society: A Preliminary Report. Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society. Stanford University.
• 6: Putnam, R. Bowling Alone. Simon and Schuster, New York NY, 2000.
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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  J. Computer Applications
  J.4 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
      Subjects: Sociology

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.5 Local and Wide-Area Networks
          Subjects: High-speed (e.g., FDDI, fiber channel, ATM)

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
broadband networks, community, netville, social capital, social networks, technology and society