This book provides background on the design and development of the Blacksburg Electronic Village, rationale for technology choices and success factors in a variety of sectors including public schools, local government, business and residences. Democracy is Online , by Steve Clift, discusses the challenges to using communications technologies to promote and enhance democracy, while pointing to examples throughout the world where he believes it's working. People interested in these issues may also discuss them on Steve's E-Democracy discussion lists . A quick read. If you don't have time to read each of the case studies, do be sure to read the Analysis and Conclusions .
Slides are also available.
Reviews the landscape of opinion about the relationship between technology and community. It finds that in spite of the rhetoric to increase a sense of community and democratic participation, most community networks offer limited opportunity for public dialogue and debate. While written in 1995, this is one of the best research efforts concerning community networking. Information for people and organizations interested in developing Community networks. The web site has excerpts from the book.