4.4.) The three most useful/interesting pages from the previous searches

I used for the first two sources the search strategy from 4.3. b.) using the conjunction “and” and the domain “edu” to limit the number of pages to choose from. For the third page I removed the restriction on educational sites, whereby it is still a scientific work.

So the three most useful or rather interesting pages from the previous search are to me:

a.) URL: http://education.odu.edu/eci/idt/research/dissertations/2004-SLin.pdf

Author: Shin Yi Lin

Instititution: Old Dominion University


Summary: The dissertation reviews the different forms of presentation on the net in hindsight of eudcational puposes. It reviews thereby the furthering effects of synchronous, written chat, versus asynchronous forms of presentation, like text on the net and tasks.

“Synchronous text-based chat vis-à-vis asynchronous threaded discussion: an instructional strategy for providing an option in two course delivery schemes” (Shin, 2004)

b.) URL: http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol4/issue4/donath.html

Author: Judith Donath, Karrie Karahalios and Fernanda Viegas

Institution :MIT Media Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Abstract
Although the archive of text generated by a persistent conversation (i.e. newsgroup, mailing list, recorded chat, etc.) is searchable, it is not very expressive of the underlying social patterns. In this paper we will discuss the design of graphical interfaces that reveal the social structure of the conversation by visualizing patterns such as bursts of activity, the arrival of new members, or the evolution of conversational topics. Our focus is on two projects: Chat Circles, a graphical interface for synchronous conversation and Loom, a visualization of threaded discussion. Through these examples we will explore key issues in the generation, design and use of graphical interfaces for persistent conversations.

“Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences “ (Donath, Karahalios & Viegas, 1999)

c.) URL: http://www.ludd.luth.se/~jonsson/D-essay/preface.html

Author: Jonsson Ewa

Institution: Lulea University of Technology

Summary: the author deals with the different media available on the internet for communication. It shows current developments and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of these media. These media include written text in IRC and chat, speech and avatars.

“Electronic discourse on speech and writing on the internet” (Jonsson, 1997)


References

Donath, J., Karahalios, K., & Viegas, F. (1999). Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Retrieved August 01, 2008, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol4/issue4/donath.html

Jonsson, E. (1997). Electronic discourse on speech and writing on the internet. Retrieved August 01, 2008, from http://www.ludd.luth.se/~jonsson/D-essay/preface.html

Shin, Y.I. (2004). Synchronous text based chat vis a vis asynchronous threaded discussion: An instructional strategy providing an option in two course delivery schemes. Retrieved August 01, 2008, from, http://education.odu.edu/eci/idt/research/dissertations/2004-SLin.pdf

Even if I considered these 3 pages the most useful / interesting pages I did not use them all in the project as some just did not fit into the text structure and would have, considering the 500 word limit, just taken the text to far into detail. Nevertheless these pages raised to me interesting points and improved my understanding of the theme.