Around the Web - December 17, 2008

This week on Around the Web, Elizabeth Lomas, a researcher from the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom, emailed Archives*Open some interesting information about a UK based records management project that is seeking international participants, who will eventually be connected virtually, "to look at RM and wider information issues to maximise information potential for computer mediated communications, which includes email but also lots of other technologies such as Web 2.0 ones."

This is Ms. Lomas' full description of the project:

Call for virtual co-researchers

I am putting out a call for international co-researchers to take part in a co-operative action research inquiry aimed at critically evaluating how to maximise organisation's information potential for communications created through computer mediated technologies (email, Facebook, wikis - any system with dialogue potential), taking into account the impact of the individual.

The research will commence in February 2009 and will be undertaken through virtual discussions and online collaboration using a closed site set up on the web. Each participant has the power to influence the direction of the research.

The research is a UK Northumbria University records management project, although the work is looking at wider information issues in order to evaluate the research aim. There are currently 50 UK participants engaged in the research, consisting of archivists, designers, knowledge managers, psychologists, records managers and communication enthusiasts. The groups will ultimately join up virtually.

If you would like further information then please contact me. elizabeth.lomas@northumbria.ac.uk

What is of particular interest to Archives*Open is the fact that this project is seeking to build on the expertise of those in different fields of study and to have them collaborate, ultimately, in a virtual environment. Essentially, a community of researchers with different backgrounds collaborating virtually towards a common goal. I am interested in learning more about Ms. Lomas' plans to implement a virtual collaborative environment, such as the kinds of web-based tools or services.  

Since so much of what we do on the Web ultimately finds an international audience, there is merit and much wisdom is seeking collaboration internationally. We certainly have so much to share amongst ourselves.

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Around the Web is a community-driven series of blog posts. It endeavours to serve as a platform where archivists and other information professionals submit information about archival projects that are using Web 2.0, or, alternatively, where archivists and other information professionals submit opinions, comments on Web 2.0 in an archives environment. Let's generate some useful discussion threads. Please send Archives*Open your stories and opinions.