Academic-Capital

Connecting with other researchers has taken on a new form in the online world. Through the use of free and paid services it is possible to connect with other scientists and collaborate on important projects.  The sites and services offer the opportunity to socialize, communication, share documents and brain storm in collaboration. A presentation by Dr. Jackie Krause provides tips and tools. Blogging, social media and online collaboration sites are making their way through the scientific community. Where professors and scientists research projects at their local universities with people they knew they now have the opportunity to collaborate with each other from many locations in the world. The use of the Internet makes such efforts possible and speeds up the production of scientific discovery.  Scientists can build social networks and share resources with others who are interested in the same topics as them. By not working in silo they can help each other find resources fr

Companies are seeking to find ways to draw in customers in a data rich environment. With lots of free content there must be something that differentiates sites to create income streams. Content alone is limited but content with social interaction develops engagement and eventual purchases. By developing social networking, group interaction, and constant new information sites can turn passive users into paying customers. Social computing and networking has taken a more important function in business networks. Social computing power has transferred from organizations to individuals who desire to, “manifest their creativity, engage in social interaction, contribute their expertise, share content, collectively build new tools and disseminate information” (Parameswaran and Whinston, 2007, pp. 753).  It is a process of collaboration and social building.  Commitment to a site and its content is important for overall engagement. Organizational commitment theory indicates that