Comments on: Social Networks & Online Community http://beyondwordsla.com/biz/online-community/ Tom Murphy | doin' time in the digital ether Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:15:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2 By: Tom Murphy http://beyondwordsla.com/biz/online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:31:46 +0000 http://spookyfilms.com/wp2/?p=10#comment-5 In the mid-90s, the foundation of online communities was being set. I worked for a while as a public relations writer/journalist for Durand Corporation in Santa Barbara. Durand’s Mindwire Client/Server Network was a front runner in online applications built on community models. I created media for their Venture Capital presentations and CD video and audio for their programs. It was inspiring to be part of a team of technology innovators. Now, so many take the Internet for granted and benefit from a VC fueled push to make the technology transparent so everyone can take part. In the early days the social theories were translated into technology by some brilliant folks.

Being a technology evangelist meant monthly meetings with a group of fantastic people – technology pioneers, corporate leaders and social journalists.
Max Gail hosted LAP (Local Access Place) meetings in Malibu. LAP was a technology think tank focused on social networking. Casey Hughes, one of the coolest guys ever, surfer, technology guru with CFO brilliance was a powerhouse at Durand Corporation. Through Casey I met Howard Rheingold, an influential writer and creator of Electric Minds, a leading online community at that time. The future Howard wrote about is now in full bloom. Clifford Figallo had a special insight into communities which were based on deep understanding of social networks. The foundation he spoke about were communes, which some folks misinterpret as a hippie idealistic lifestyle that evolved in the 60’s. Not exactly. These guys are living examples that social consciousness works.

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