Rating: 
Summary: thoughtful integration
Review: Jenny Preece's book lays out the space between the emerging phenomenon of online communities and the technical requirements for supporting these communities. Many important studies and discussions of online communities exist and there is a good body of CSCW literature related to building systems for collaboration, but Preece focuses on principles and practices of usability of emerging systems. This is new ground and brings the perspective of usability engineering to the social issues of electronic communication. In addiiton to defining this intersection as a subfield of HCI/CSCW, there are practical suggestions for users and desigers alike. This is an interesting first step toward online sociability research and development.
Rating:
Summary: thoughtful integration
Review: Jenny Preece's book lays out the space between the emerging phenomenon of online communities and the technical requirements for supporting these communities. Many important studies and discussions of online communities exist and there is a good body of CSCW literature related to building systems for collaboration, but Preece focuses on principles and practices of usability of emerging systems. This is new ground and brings the perspective of usability engineering to the social issues of electronic communication. In addiiton to defining this intersection as a subfield of HCI/CSCW, there are practical suggestions for users and desigers alike. This is an interesting first step toward online sociability research and development.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo for linking sociability and usability
Review: Jenny Preece's book thoughtfully links social interaction with interface design. Too many online ghost towns result from those who don't grasp the linkage and the importance of both aspects. Online community developers need to be aware of the impact of interface decisions, such as the simplicity of the login process or the ease in searching for background info on participants, on the effectiveness of a medical support group.This book also builds an important bridge between theory and practice. For example, network theory from sociology suggests who should be participants in an online community and common ground theory from psychology is linked to interface design decisions. While some wide-eyed technology promoters believe that immersive environments are the ultimate goal, Jenny Preece makes a compelling case that asynchronous environments can produce higher levels of engagement and empathic support. Her broad review with references are thorough and help readers see the emergence of a new discipline. This will be appreciated by established researchers and developers and a useful guide to novices and students.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo for linking sociability and usability
Review: Jenny Preece's book thoughtfully links social interaction with interface design. Too many online ghost towns result from those who don't grasp the linkage and the importance of both aspects. Online community developers need to be aware of the impact of interface decisions, such as the simplicity of the login process or the ease in searching for background info on participants, on the effectiveness of a medical support group. This book also builds an important bridge between theory and practice. For example, network theory from sociology suggests who should be participants in an online community and common ground theory from psychology is linked to interface design decisions. While some wide-eyed technology promoters believe that immersive environments are the ultimate goal, Jenny Preece makes a compelling case that asynchronous environments can produce higher levels of engagement and empathic support. Her broad review with references are thorough and help readers see the emergence of a new discipline. This will be appreciated by established researchers and developers and a useful guide to novices and students.
Rating:
Summary: The importance of usability
Review: Jenny Preece's new book addresses what is one of the most important considerations in the spread of Internet use (or intranet, for that matter), and that's usability -- a necessary, fundamental adjunct to the function of being able to connect together successfully through this medium. Sites and activities with poor usability will vanish from the scene as people find other places and activities easier to use. Developers beware, and students take note! We have convinced those who are eager to adopt new technologies because they are interested in them. Now we need to entice with those who just want it simple, straightforward and helpful or fun as a phone call to friends. This book abounds in techniques for achieving that.
Rating: 
Summary: Online Communities for Dummies
Review: This book appears to be written for those who are ignorant about online communities (and I can't imagine why such a person would pick up this book). I found no insights in this book that would not be obvious to an experienced user/member of online communities. I was recently given a new task at work to manage an online community of practice (for project managers) at my global company, and I was hoping that this book would offer some new insights and ideas. It was a complete disappointment. I found much better information in an article from the Harvard Business Review and from the IBM website.
Rating:
Summary: Online Communities for Dummies
Review: This book appears to be written for those who are ignorant about online communities (and I can't imagine why such a person would pick up this book). I found no insights in this book that would not be obvious to an experienced user/member of online communities. I was recently given a new task at work to manage an online community of practice (for project managers) at my global company, and I was hoping that this book would offer some new insights and ideas. It was a complete disappointment. I found much better information in an article from the Harvard Business Review and from the IBM website.
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive guide to online communities
Review: This extremely well documented book brings readers up to date with all we know about online communities (except for their economics). Preece's concept of community-centered design takes a big step toward bringing systemization and structure to the free wheeling world of online development. Business people will find many helpful "how to" guides, techniques and examples for community needs analysis, design, testing, monitoring and evaluation. Academics will relish her study documentation, references, articulation of continuing issues and recommendations for further reading. Students can learn much from the well documented case studies of several different online community applications.
Rating:
Summary: Best book on online communities
Review: This is by far the best book out there on online communities. Not only does Jenny address the most needed topic on online communities, usabaility, but offers explainations and concerns for running online communities in the business corporation, as opposed to the majority of online community books relating to internet or gaming communities. I have deeply benefited from this book and recommend it for anyone interested in managing or an online community or laying out an online community strategy.
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