Tutorial Six:The internet and online communities

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating
The community that I have decided to look into is the website called disabled online The address for this is:
http://www.disabledonline.com/

What is the brief or focus of this community
This site has been done to provide the best content for people. It is also there for family and friends to interact and gain whatever information necessary to a better one's life. Disabled On line’s primary purpose is to offer barrier free opportunities for individuals who face physical and mental obstacles on a daily basis.

What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?
This site also provides a variety of interactive tools. Access to our chat rooms and forums are available at any time of the day and all year around.
They also have links that you can click on which give you information on the particular area you have clicked on. These are all on the home page of diabledonline.com. These are some of the types of links that are on the page that users can click on: Home & living, Education, Medical, Social and recreation.

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?
I think the main and biggest reason why people contribute to this community is so they are able to interact with other people who are in a similar situation and this may give the user a gain in information that they had never through of which may help them in their daily living. It is also good for the individual to come on this site as it would make them feel that they do exist and that there is help out there if needed.

Cut and paste an example of the type of topics being discussed (you may have to provide a context to your excerpt).
As a disabled person of more than 30 years, I have written many articles on many subjects. If this one assists just one person, I have achieved my goal. [b]Guide Dogs & Their Owners[/b] A guide dog is a highly trained dog that acts as a mobility aid to blind and visually impaired people. It provides not only mobility but gives freedom and independence as well as being a faithful and loving companion. With the increased mobility and independence gained through the use of a guide dog, the confidence of the blind or visually impaired person soars. Well trained guide dogs are intelligent, alert, and always willing to serve. Amongst other things a guide dog is taught to: • Walk in a straight line in the centre of the pavement unless there is an obstacle. • Not to turn corners unless told to do so. • To stop at kerbs and wait for the command to cross the road, or to turn left or right; • Amazingly they are taught to judge height and width so that its owner does not bump their head or shoulder • How to deal with traffic. Matching the correct dog with the correct owner takes skill and experience. The owner’s length of stride, height and lifestyle all contribute to the type of guide dog they will be matched with. Dog and owner will spend up to four weeks of intensive training together until they qualify together. The visually-impaired owner often pays only a token 50p for their dog. The guide dog is then awarded a white or yellow harness.
Some Do’s & Don’ts When Meeting A guide Dog • Don't give the dog commands. Only it’s master can do so. • Don't walk on the dog's left side as it may become distracted or confused. • Do walk on the owner's right side but several paces behind him. • Don't attempt to grab or steer the person while the dog is guiding him or her attempt to hold the dog's harness. • Do ask if the owner needs your assistance and, if so, offer your left arm. • Don't give the dog table scraps. Do respect the master's need to give the dog a balanced diet and to maintain its good habits. • Don't allow children to tease or abuse the dog. • Do allow it to rest undisturbed. • Don't allow your pets to challenge or intimidate a guide dog.. • If permission is granted, Don't pat the dog on the head. Do stroke the dog on the shoulder area.

Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.
At Disabled Online, they will not collect any personally identifiable information about the individuals (name, address, telephone number, email address) unless they provide it to the community voluntarily. If they do not want their personal information collected, they ask to not submit it.
Disabled online is a public website that anyone can access. It is good that they have a username and a password that people use who access this site as it is safe in some cases. On this site they do have a list of consumer’s privacy rights and site policies.

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity
The good thing about this online community is that it holds so much information not just on the site but the people who are interacting on the site as well for others to read and gather information that in the future may be beneficial for the individual. It is something that someone can access everyday if needed.

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.
I think that it would be good that people could meet up who gain a relationship with online.
Anyone who talks on the chartroom anyone else can see the conversations that you have on it.
I think that more information on the site may be beneficial to the people who use it.