Identity

See interwiki identity standard for a more focused discussion or debate.

"The human body operates as a rich site for information. As we pass through the world, we give off information about cultural identity (ethnicity, sex, age, etc), social class, individual personality (through dress or physical alterations) and psychological state (through movement and tone of voice). These cues help others determine the appropriate modes of interaction with us. In computer-mediated communication (CMC), the performance of identity occurs not through direct experience of the body but within the constraints of digital representations constructed by interactive systems."

"Online presentations of self have been - and could be - constructed. In the absence of the body as a source of accountability and social legibility, individuals project a sense of self through multiple layers of mediation, including email addresses, graphic avatars, "friend lists," and results from search engines. How can we use the body in a mediated world? Or alternately, how can we promote rich modes of interaction that do not rely on the illusion of physical presence?"

Some designers, notably Danah Boyd, seek to "produce a conceptual framework promoting accountability, expression, and trust in online interactions. We invite contributions from researchers exploring social aspects of CMC, including, but not limited to: blogging, gaming, online dating, mobile and ubiquitous social devices." They collaborate with "researchers interested in reputation, trust, privacy and vulnerability; social networks, identity, persistent conversations, and context." - [1]