sna

//todo// //include especially work by Peter_Mika// 1155999407
 * Social network theory & social network analysis**

Social networking sites and Semantic Web research

The area of online social-networking (SN) sites or portals has drawn recent interest from Semantic Web researchers (e.g. Stefan Decker and others with from [|DERI] in Ireland).

O'Murchu, Breslin, and Decker (2004) provide an overview of popular online business and social networking sites including Friendster ([|www.friendster.com]), LinkedIn ([]), Ryze ([|www.ryze.com]). O'Murchu, Breslin, and Decker suggest, "Social networking portals are a recent trend," (Sect 1: Intro.). Of the ten social networking sites (SNS) reviewed several, including LinkedIn and Friendster, began in 2003. They distinguish social networking portals from the more general 'portals, including 'enterprise', 'government' and 'community' portals, and argue that a social networking portal is a site that "connects and presents people based on information gathered about them, as stored in their user profiles," (Sect 1: Intro.).

//todo give specific examples esp. LinkedIn and Friendster.//

The differences between community portals and social networking portal, at least according O'Murchu, Breslin, and Decker, appear subtle, more matter of emphasis than a matter of overarching purpose: > Community portals provide improved communication and contact with a community online providing local or community based information. They are the most widespread platform used by communities to inform electronically. Members can find information and contribute relevant shared information to others within the portal. Community portals provide an awareness and interaction amongst a community whether for profit or non-profit. They provide an online collaboration space for a community of certain interest. Community portals replace the traditional means of keeping a community informed via libraries and publishing. They help to provide an online global community and communication agora [i.e. a public open space, marketplace or public square] and to strengthen the communities by informing them and providing an open place for communication, interaction, and the exchange of information and ideas. (Sect 1.1 Portals) In other words, the emphasis of a community portal may be to provide user a “collaboration space”, a forum, or a communication venue. Whereas the goal of a SN portal is to allow users to ‘connect’ or link-up with others whose profile-information and/or shared social ‘connections' suggests common interests.

//todo: link to argument of the differences between communities, CoPs, and social networks.//

Neumann, M., O'Murchu, I., Breslin, J., Decker, S., Hogan, D., & MacDonaill, C. (2005.). Semantic social network portal for enterprise online communities. Journal of European Industrial Training (Special Edition), 29(6).
 * References**

O'Murchu, I., Breslin, J., & Decker, S. (2004). //Online social and business networking communities//. Paper presented at the Workshop on the Application of Semantic Web Technologies to Web Communities, in conjunction with the 16th European Conference on Artificial Intelligence.

Wellman, B. (1996). //For a social network analysis of computer networks: a sociological perspective on collaborative work and virtual community//. Paper presented at the 1996 ACM SIGCPR/SIGMIS conference on Computer personnel research, Denver, CO.

Wellman, B., & Gulia, M. (1999). Net surfers don't ride alone: Virtual communities as communities. In M. Smith & P. Kollock (Eds.), //Communities in cyberspace// (pp. 167-194). London: Routledge.