Community Informatics

The Executive Summary of the NSF proposal outlines a basic definition of Community Informatics and the primary objectives of the study:

“Community Informatics is the application of information and communications technologies to enable community processes and the achievement of community objectives.  Community Informatics research and analysis has traditionally been concerned with “geo-local” communities – those identified with a particular local geographical area.  “Virtual communities” are often identified only with the use of limited computerized tools as a support to on-line community processes.  The proposed project has an objective of integrating the conceptual approaches which have developed in relation to the two areas and systematizing these so as to support the development of consistent Community Informatics theory, research and technical supports.  A second objective is bringing Community Informatics researchers and practitioners active with “geo-local” and “virtual” communities together to actively collaborate in research and real-world projects.  We call this collaboration Virtual Community Informatics.  The seed money would support an initial round of workshops, and be used to attract additional funding from foundations and governmental agencies internationally.  With this additional funding, we hope to develop a full research and applied environment supporting research, development and real-world applications of Virtual Community Informatics.”