Critical mass and self-sustaining activity

Abstract

Recent studies of community networks (CNs) have provided optimistic views of the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) to support and enhance community life in various ways, in a variety of urban settings (di Maggio, Hargittai, Neuman & Robinson, 2004; Hampton & Wellman, 2001; Kavanaugh & Patterson, 2001). Consequently, there is growing interest from the community sector and ICT professionals in facilitating the social appropriation of ICT, and a growing interest from academics in the performance and evaluation of CN technologies.