Social networking sites provide a unique opportunity for users to engage in broadcast online file sharing and collaboration. In this study we examine the usage of Docs.com, which integrates Microsoft Office web documents with Facebook. In reviewing the content of Docs.com documents, we found they were equally created and shared for work, personal productivity, and play. Users actively employed relationship levels in their Facebook networks to define access to their documents. However, we also found the most viewed documents were those shared to the entire public, with Facebook notifications driving most of the traffic to these public documents. Finally, through a factor analysis of user activity four primary types of usage emerged – sharing, creating, collaborating, and consuming. Those who created and collaborated around documents had higher levels of engagement than those who just shared or consumed documents, interacting with more documents and returning on more unique days.

Social networking sites provide a unique opportunity for users to engage in broadcast online file sharing and collaboration. In this study we examine the usage of Docs.com, which integrates Microsoft Office web documents with facebook. In reviewing the content of Docs.com documents, we found they were equally created and shared for work, personal productivity, and play. Users actively employed relationship levels in their Facebook networks to define access to their documents. However, we also found the most viewed documents were those shared to the entire public, with Facebook notifications driving most of the traffic to these public documents. Finally, through a factor analysis of user activity four primary types of usage emerged – sharing, creating, collaborating, and consuming. Those who created and collaborated around documents had higher levels of engagement than those who just shared or consumed documents, interacting with more documents and returning on more unique days.

Dotastic is a mobile application that lets people challenge each other to get tasks done. Dotastic leverages social pressure to help people accomplish tasks that they would otherwise not be motivated to do. We propose using Dotastic as an integrated demo that adds an element of fun to real-time events, increasing interactions among the event attendees, and helping organizers use the persuasive technology to obtain desired outcomes.

Dotastic is a mobile application that lets people challenge each other to get tasks done. Dotastic leverages social pressure to help people accomplish tasks that they would otherwise not be motivated to do. We propose using Dotastic as an integrated demo that adds an element of fun to real-time events, increasing interactions among the event attendees, and helping organizers use the persuasive technology to obtain desired outcomes.

We developed an online system, doGooder, to foster volunteer social networks. Through an extensive user-centered design process, including interviews and a literature review, we learned that people experiencing homelessness face a wide range of issues. Most organizations helping the homeless depend heavily on volunteers to enhance their service capacity. One agency we studied was able to extend its budget by 30% as a result of volunteer labor. Research shows that social relationships play a key role in galvanizing potential volunteers and motivating existing ones. doGooder connects volunteers with opportunities and service organizations, and builds a community of volunteers to encourage each other. Preliminary usability testing indicates that doGooder will successfully help organizations to recruit, retain, and organize volunteers to meet the diverse needs of various populations facing homelessness.

We developed an online system, doGooder, to foster volunteer social networks. Through an extensive user-centered design process, including interviews and a literature review, we learned that people experiencing homelessness face a wide range of issues. Most organizations helping the homeless depend heavily on volunteers to enhance their service capacity. One agency we studied was able to extend its budget by 30% as a result of volunteer labor. Research shows that social relationships play a key role in galvanizing potential volunteers and motivating existing ones. doGooder connects volunteers with opportunities and service organizations, and builds a community of volunteers to encourage each other. Preliminary usability testing indicates that doGooder will successfully help organizations to recruit, retain, and organize volunteers to meet the diverse needs of various populations facing homelessness.