fishers, surfers and casters

Stumbled across this just now. New data (with some sources cited, but not many), on the Internet in the US and for the rest of us, from the end of 2009:

I have been invited to give a series of lectures in Kerala, India. While that may sound ubercool, the reality is that my fellowship had bought tickets for me to go to a conference there, but the conference was cancelled, and the fellowship didn’t want to waste the tickets, so they’re putting me to work. But I am uberexcited about it. I’ve heard many wonderful things about IMPACT, the organisation that is hosting me, and I feel honoured to have this opportunity.

Here are a few of the topics I’ll be talking about:

Human interaction in Cyberspace

The worldwide web (internet) is a virtual world (Cyberspace) alongside our natural world. Internet technology helps humans create social environments that shape their understandings of self, the world, and the other. Particularly, the web 2.0 technology and the networked communities, blogs and podcasts provide virtual space for all forms human interaction.

Religion Online

Ever since the birth of internet, religion is present and active in cyberspace. The increasing popularity of these Internet tools to express a religious identity and seek connections with others has impact on how people participate in religious institutions in the real world. Many fear that religion online will lead to the ultimate demise of organized religions like Christianity. Others think that the democratizing force of online religion affects the authority of the traditional religious offices. What is the future of religion in the digital age?!

Godcasting: exploring religious audiences and podcasting communities

Today, religious programs are the second most popular genre of podcasting. Blogging and podcasting are working to create and enhance online religious communities, and shape relationships between producers and consumers of podcasted religious content. Specifically, it is interesting to explore how bloggers connect online life in a highly technologised society with traditional notions of religious life. This workshop will be an exploration on how the web 2.0 technology and the networked communities, blogs and podcasts provide virtual space to explore new forms of religious expression.

IMPACT is is a Portal for Communication Research, Training and Formation. It is a Christian response to the challenge of the emerging communication culture. IMPACT program aims at forming leaders conversant with the predominant and emerging communication culture.

This is The Edge’s world question for 2010. This site draws on recently published literature to highlight what we know, hope and fear about how being online changes how we think. The project has also gathered some 150 people to put together a reader.

My awesome friend Heidi Campbell has scored a pocket of money from Texas A&M University to seed a Virtual Centre for Research into New Media, Religion and Digital Culture. She’s looking around for people who may have any ideas, opinions or resources to share. If you’re one of those people, check out the Facebook page and contact her there.