Designers, implementers, and users of computer network applications are all deeply involved in the processes of social and cultural change, whether or not they consciously and actively choose to consider these processes. Issues such as community and privacy, dependence and individualism are no longer simply the province of philosophers and social scientists; they are tightly interwoven in the design and use of network applications. Virtual Individuals, Virtual Groups explores the social dimensions of the powerful computing applications that are shaping our culture. It addresses design and theoretical issues relating to groupware and other applications of computer networks. It considers computer network applications in terms of the notions of genre and narrative, in a framework that is broadly applicable to the development of a wide range of computing and communication systems, such as virtual reality and multimedia.

’This book is for serious reading and study. It is very readable and brilliantly thought through. The publication makes a huge body of work accessible to those of us who have time for only one book on the subject.’

Ian Alexander Source: Computing