Computer Conferencing as a Revolutionary Medium

For Hiltz and Turoff (1978), computer conferencing is a revolutionary medium of communication which will radically transform society, making McLuhan's (1964) "global village" an interpersonal reality (p. xxix):

We will become the Network Nation, exchanging vast amounts of both information and social-emotional communications with colleagues, friends, and 'strangers' who share similar interests, who are spread out all over the nation. Ultimately, ... we will become a 'global village' whose boundaries are demarcated only by the political decisions of those governments that choose not to become part of an international computer network. An individual will, literally, be able to work, shop, or be educated by or with persons anywhere in the nation or the world.

This electronic global village is, in the intersection of computer conferencing, chat, the web, and other Internet based communication services, now a practical reality for large numbers of people.

Essential characteristics of computer conferencing

Essential characteristics of computer conferencing (at this stage in its development) include:

Asynchronous interaction

Contributions to a computer conference are stored and distributed in ways that allow unscheduled participation. Participants need not join the discussion at the same time or, for that matter, at any specific time. Simultaneous interaction is not prohibited. Indeed, some synchrony is inevitable as the number of participants in a computer conference grows. Some computer conferencing software even offers special capabilities when simultaneous interaction occurs. A computer conference does not, however, require simultaneous interaction. Many participants will read (and often reply to) the contribution hours, days, or even weeks after it is made. So long as a record of interaction is maintained, a participant who drops out of a discussion for a few months can catch up on and rejoin the discussion at any time.

Geographically distributed participation

The broad accessibility of computers via telephone and computer networks combines with the asynchronous character of computer conferencing to allow geographically distributed individuals to participate in a computer conference as peers. Lack of propinquity is not a prerequisite to a successful computer conference. The author has participated in successful computer conferences in which none of the participants were physically separated by more than a few hundred feet. Still, the ability to link diversely located communicators is an essential characteristic of a computer conference. Indeed, this study will report a level of geographic dispersal of participation that is far beyond that reported in previous studies of computer conferencing (see :hdref page=no refid=method.).

Interpersonal Interaction

Although contributions to a computer conference are almost exclusively written, delivery of messages to other participants can be almost instantaneous. This, and the possibility of immediate reply, make the medium highly interactive. Even when reply follows initial contribution by weeks or months, the content of messages and the structure of interaction is much closer to conversation or small group discussion than it is to letter writing or publication. Indeed, attempts to keep individual conferences conversation free (restricted to news reports, for instance) are strongly resisted by contributors. Indeed, as will be seen when we examine rules in IBM's computer conferencing systems, conferences are only kept conversation free with considerable effort.

Interconnection of large numbers of participants

There is no observed upper limit on the number of individuals that can successfully participate in a computer conference. Indeed, this study will confirm levels of individual participation in a computer conference at least an order of magnitude larger than has been reported in previous studies (see :hdref page=no refid=growth.). A large numbers of participants is not a prerequisite to a successful computer conference. All that is required is a small group of committed contributors Still, the ability to link large numbers of communicators is an essential characteristic of a computer conference.

In summary, computer conferencing allows large numbers of geographically distributed individuals to converse in an asynchronous manner. Restated slightly, we might say that computer conferencing provides for interpersonal interaction among members of a mass media audience.