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READING LINKS All readings come from Modules developed by the college's faculty. Each week's module readings should be read before they are discussed in class, so that a true discussion can take place. For example, readings for Module 2, Organizations should be read previous to the Week 3 class session. MODULE 1 READINGS: Universal Access and Accesibility Information: how do different populations interact with information based on differing levels of access they have? Environment: what are the values assigned to universal access to information by a society and by technology designers? Systems: how does system design impact the ability of underserved populations to access and use information? People: what are the information needs of these underserved populations and what  are the requirements for systems and environments to support them? Readings MODULE 2 READINGS: System Design for User-Centered Information Sharing and Access Systems Lens: Information: The information content might be expressed using language (e.g., e-text, spoken, printed, handwritten), visually (e.g., photographs, sketches, video), or acoustically (e.g., music).   Environment: Some systems are designed for autonomous operation (e.g., “filtering” or “alerting” systems), while others are intended for interactive use (e.g., “search engines”).   People: Individual differences in, for example, initial knowledge, cognitive styles, experience, and language skills can naturally result in different outcomes. Readings MODULE 3 READINGS: Cloud Computing Information: What are examples of "Web-scale" datasets that corporations, scientists, etc. would want to analyze? Users: Organizations and individuals can both be users of cloud computing technology, but of course in different ways---what are they? Environments: Will cloud computing be dominated by a small number of "big players" (e.g., Google, Amazon, etc.)?  Do we have an adequate framework for resolving legal disputes "in the clouds"? Systems: Of course, large data centers are what makes up the clouds. Readings MODULE 4 READINGS: Social Visualization Systems Systems Lens People: How do social visualization tools support interaction between people, collaboration, and communication? Environments: What types of social visualization environments are effective? What hinderences do they place on users? Can these environments inhibit communication? Can they be simply ineffective? What environmental factors are necessary to support users? Information: What types of information should be shown to users? How is it best presented? What are the information overload problems that visualization can address? How can visualizations improve the way people understand their social interactions? Readings back to top MODULE 5 READINGS: Information Economics Lenses Information: What are the characteristics of information goods and how do they differ from other goods? How does information affect the decisions people make? Users: Traditional economics views users as individuals who are trying to maximize their utility (i.e., "happiness") through making rational decisions. Modern economics recognizes that humans are much more complicated, different, and irrational, but still tries to develop mathematical models that predict user behavior - especially in situations where scarcity of resources is involved. Environments: The key environment that economists examine is markets, thus, they are interested in certain measurable things about the environment like prices and commodities. However, as you will see in the Kollock and Benkler article, economics concepts are often applied to other settings (e.g., online communities) than monetary markets. Systems: Economists are often interested in designing rules (e.g., incentive structures) that help meet the goals of various social system (organizations, virtual communities, governments, etc.). Readings back to top