XVI. Technology

The Web sites below were selected because they highlight sociological issues that relate to the Internet. These issues range from discussions of the Internet and censorship, to issues relating to self-identity and social interaction. The future of Internet culture depends on the advancement of technology. Therefore, resource sites on advances that affect consumer use of the Internet have also been included.

Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies

http://www.com.washington.edu/rccs/

The Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies is an online, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to research, study, teach, support, and create diverse and dynamic elements of cyberculture. RCCS seeks to establish and support ongoing conversations about the emerging field; to foster a community of students, scholars, teachers, explorers, and builders of cyberculture; and to showcase various models, works-in-progress, and online projects.

Net Culture at About.com

http://netculture.about.com/internet/netculture/mbody.htm

This site is a great starting point for learning more about contemporary Internet culture. It contains essays on current topics, as well as links to resources related to hot issues, such as intellectual property, privacy, and cyber theory. Social aspects of the Internet, such as gender and identity, are also touched upon in this site.

Howard Rheingold's Virtual Community

http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/index.html

This important and influential online and printed text studies the advent of the "virtual community." It describes how electronic pioneers from the counterculture and world of grassroots activism converged on the net with technology visionaries to explore the potential of a new medium. In the process, new potential modalities for social networks were created, that form the basis for much of the discussion and thinking in the area today.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

http://www.eff.org/

EFF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression in the arena of computers and the Internet.

Electronic Privacy Information Center

http://www.epic.org/

EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values. EPIC examines the ways in which public and private bureaucracies use and misuse their technologies and influence in areas that concern individual privacy and freedom of speech.

Cybersociology

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/Socialworld/Cyberspace.html

The cybersociology Web site is a list providing links to Web sites addressing virtual reality from a sociological perspective. Themes explored at the site include identity, censorship, social interaction, and cyberculture. Links to access reliable academic information on cybersexuality  and the impact of the Internet on social change are also provided.

C/Net

http://www.cnet.com/

A good online source for information concerning the day-to-day business of technology. The site provides daily news of concern to computer and Internet users, as well as tools and tips for technology buyers of all types.

Computer Mediated Communication Information Sources

http://www.december.com/cmc/info/index.html

This Web site is a well-organized resource relating to computer mediated communication issues. An ample amount of training resources are provided, along with tools and applications. The site also provides links to businesses, governmental Web sites, and other institutions concerned with the issue.

Hotwired

http://hotwired.lycos.com/

Hotwired is the online version of  Wired magazine. In addition to providing thematic content related to the magazine, it also provides access to its own tools, such as Hotbot, the search engine, and Webmonkey, which provides access to Web authoring training and tips.

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