A Model of Knowledge Processes in Internet Communities

The Interact has become a major system for the support of knowledge processes in a wide range of communities, the range of services available has grown, and a variety of tools have been developed to support communities operating through the net. Services and modes of use have evolved rapidly and may give the impression that the net is an anarchical system with little structure. However, there are significant common dimensions underlying all the various services and their use separately and together. This article develops a model for Internet services based on the time structure of punctuated discourse and on the awareness of originators of recipients and vice versa.