Lecture Outline:

            Internet communities: Sites on the Internet where people can find and then electronically
            communicate to others with similar interests. Services available at these sites include free
            web pages, chat and message boards, games, shopping, and news. Most of the sites are
            free to join (though you generally  have to register).  These sites are supported by advertising.

Assignment:

            HW#7

Resources:

           Howard Reingold's Book (The Virtual Community)
           Online Community Report

General Communities:
           About.com (formally Mining Co.)
           Homestead
           ICQ.com
           TheWell (part of Salon.com)
           Tripod (part of Lycos)

Specialized Communities:
           Bet.com (African-American Community)
           BlackPlanet.com(African-American Community)
           Bolt (focus on teens and college students)
           Clearstation (investor community)
           CollegeClub.com
           El Sitio (Hispanic Community)
           GardenWeb (gardening discussion community)
           iParenting (community for parents)
           IVilliage (community for women)
           Motley Fool (catering to investors)
           Netnoir (catering to African-American surfers)
           ParentsPlace.com
           Raging Bull (investing community linked to Lycos)
           Salon (web magazine and discussion forum)
           Silicon Investor (fee-based individual investor sites)
           StarMedia (Hispanic Community)
           Swell (community for surfers) 
          The Student Center (focus on teens and college students)
           Wemedia (community for those with disabilities)
           Women.com

        Web portals such as Lycos , MSN , and  Yahoo!   also support net communities.

Concepts and Terms to Know:

        Bulletin Board System
        General Internet Communities
        Specialized Internet Communities
        America OnLine (closed community) vs. "no fee" communities