Collective intelligence for the common good is considered here in terms of its contribution to social transformation at the micro level of community. A critical evaluation of the knowledge limitations of research programmes currently focussing on collective intelligence is presented before the case is made to widen collective intelligence research efforts and understanding. The application of a ‘common good’ focus to collective intelligence research and practice provides a contextualising space for community practice in the digital age to be considered through a philosophy of community technologies. Community media is presented as providing tools, spaces and processes for such critical considerations to be made. Community learning and community-based learning theories are discussed and drawn together to illustrate how community–university partnerships can be developed to facilitate and promote collective intelligence for the common good. The paper concludes with an introductory discussion of the Community Media 4 Kenya (CM4K) community–university partnership as an exemplar of collective intelligence for the common good.

This chapter introduces the community engagement strategy of the Community Network Analysis (CNA) project and considers its significance to research and practice in socio-technical design and social networking systems within the context of community technology. CNA uses a participatory action research (PAR) methodology grounded in community development principles. Employing the Community Development Foundation’s “involvement ready” model, the project adopted a mixed methods approach to data collection and analysis—community profiling, social network analysis, participatory learning workshops, and community communication space prototyping. The immersive nature of the project’s engagement strategy was designed to facilitate an interpretevist understanding of the complexities of West Hove community ecology. The project’s community-based participatory research approach is described together with the project’s contribution to knowledge, some of its significant outputs and outcomes and the tensions between the practices of community research and community development actions.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges and opportunities of employing ICT in a community building/development context through a critical reflection of the experiences of the Community Network Analysis (CNA) and ICT research project in the Poets Corner community of Brighton and Hove, UK. Grounded in community networking, community development and community learning theories, the CNA project aimed to: investigate impacts of ICT on the network ties and social cohesion of community groups; whilst exploring the uses of network technologies in stimulating social capital and promoting community development in Poets Corner.

An e-community forum program has been commenced in the Western Cape Province of South Africa in order to improve e-participation in underserved communities. This program is being examined through a dual approach of program delivery and PAR. Initial results point to a complex set of interacting political, service delivery, structural and societal issues that provide challenges for research in this area. This paper discusses these issues as an input into 'eParticipation Research Challenges'.

Information and computer technologies are used every day by real people with real needs. The authors contributing to Shaping the Network Society describe how technology can be used effectively by communities, activists and citizens to meet society's challenges. In their vision, computer professionals are concerned less with bits, bytes and algorithms and more with productive partnerships that engage both researchers and community activists. These collaborations are producing important sociotechnical work that will affect the future of the network society. Traditionally, academic research on real-world users of technology has been neglected or even discouraged. The authors contributing to this book are working to fill this gap; their theoretical and practical discussions illustrate a new orientation - research that works with people in their natural social environments, uses common language rather than rarefied academic discourse and takes a pragmatic perspective. The topics they consider are key to democratisation and social change. They include human rights in the global billboard society; public computing in Toledo, Ohio; public digital culture in Amsterdam; civil networking

Outlining issues of significance from investigations of a range of community ICT initiatives in the UK and Scandinavia, this paper presents a normative framework of democratic design criteria of relevance to community networks. Community networking or community informatics as it is increasingly called, provides the platform for a more participatory and democratic vision of the network society. However, before the opportunities presented by this vision can be embraced, the challenges of embedding such initiatives in community practice to stimulate community ownership and identity must first be addressed. Additionally, the enthusiasm of emergent community informatics practitioners should be informed by the experiences of early community ICT initiative pioneers. The issues presented in this paper provide salutary lessons for community networkers, researchers and policymakers alike.

Harnessing information communication technologies (ICT) for economic development and sustainability in the information society is currently the focus of much academic and policy debate within the European Union. The doctoral research project, University of Brighton, from which this paper is drawn contributes to this paradigmatic discourse by critically analysing current information society policies at both macro and micro levels, investigating a range of European community ICT initiatives and promoting an alternative, more inclusive approach to policy development and implementation in the information society.The research suggests that the techno-economic model of information society development exacerbates rather than addresses social exclusion. This paper outlines how a more democratic and inclusive approach to the information society is emerging through community networks. In this context the needs and aspirations of local communities form the focus of debate. This contrasts dramatically with the Tele- or Digital City approach of EC policy makers, where people appear to be viewed as little more than passive consumers of the vast array of services and products currently bombarding the global market-place.

The paper argues that the human-centred approach should be considered as an alternative to the techno-economic model of the EC information society. This alternative approach should be based on the principles of democratic participation of citizens and social cohesion. Using a community development based approach the paper introduces concepts of partnership, tripartite collaboration and universal participation. Having evaluated a human-centred approach to the information society this is then applied to the results of four case studies of Danish and Swedish community teleservice centres (CTSCs), and the subsequent lessons drawn.

This paper is based on six case studies drawn from a larger project concerned with the ideas and experiences of 20 people one year after the death of a loved person. It describes and analyses their experience of the illness and death and their adjustment during the last year. The problems as they saw them and the sources of material and social support they received are described. The results are reported in the context of existing research and implications for bereavement care are discussed

social workers have consistently attended to the impact of the environment on people's lives. The communication links between individuals and groups have been seen as important ways through which support and help can be made available. Social networks are central to practice and there has been consistent concern with them since the earliest days of social work. It is advisable to be cautious in evaluating changing fashions in theory and practice and this article reviews some current problems in the idea of social networks and community care practice. Using two illustrations of people in different living situations, and including their own views and those of people who know them, it discusses some implications for practice and the training of staff.

Although the concepts of normalisation and community care are very familiar, it is apparent that practice is often based on questionable assumptions. This paper examines some of the implications for social work.

Introduction Attempts to ameliorate social inequalities through public access computing and Internet programmes, with few noticeable exceptions, often prove ineffective in making sustainable impacts on improving quality of life, promoting social inclusion or building healthy communities. Information communication technologies (ICT) alone can not provide the material conditions necessary to address the diverse and often competing social needs found in geographic communities. Indeed, in policy and funding circles there has been a lack of contextualised consideration of how ICT might be used to address social needs and wants in an empowering sort of way. Short-term project funding for public access computing parachuted into local communities (Day & Harris, 1997) combined with technologically deterministic ignorance among policy makers (Day & Schuler, 2004; Schuler & Day, 2004) and their advisors have frequently combined in recent decades to miss opportunity after opportunity for developing effective ICT strategies and policies in support of community empowerment and capacity building. In the midst of this community technology policy/practice impasse the occasional encouraging indicator of an alternative way of understanding community information and communication needs in network societies appears. A report from the Community Development Foundation (CDF) commissioned by the Home Office for example, underlined the significance of social cohesion through inclusive initiatives (Chanan, 2004). The report proposed that understanding healthy communities depends on establishing what is 'going on' in the communities and what is needed. Flourishing communities, it argued, require good connectivity within and beyond the locality. The connectivity referred to in this instance was between people, however, supplementing this view, the Performance and Innovation Unit in Whitehall has recognised the potential of ICT in sustaining local community social capital and connectivity (Aldridge et al, 2002). With this in mind, this paper discusses the 'Community Network Analysis (CNA) and ICT: bridging and building community ties' 1 research project. CNA aimed to: 1) evaluate social cohesion in the Portland Road and Clarendon Neighbourhood Renewal area 2 by analysing the information flows, communication patterns and social network ties of the community infrastructure; and 2) investigate the potential of 100 network technologies as tools for building and sustaining community social capital. The project's community development oriented methodology is discussed briefly before consideration is given to the project's findings. These are presented against the backcloth of a community engagement and partnership building strategy.