One important new context of communication for older adults is computer-mediated communication (CMC). Although the Internet has become an important resource for information, little is known about the ways in which individuals use this technology for social support. Older adults (mean age = 62) using SeniorNet and other related websites completed an on-line questionnaire (N = 136) investigating social support in the computer-mediated environment. Satisfaction with Internet providers of social support was significantly higher for high Internet users than for low Internet users whereas low Internet users were more satisfied with their non-Internet support networks than high Internet users. Internet companionship network size was significantly larger than Internet social support network size. Greater involvement with the on-line community was predictive of lower perceived life stress. Social support and companionship satisfaction were not related to the types of coping strategies used; however, the results indicate that direct action was the most common coping strategy for the sample.

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Computer-Mediated Social Support, Older Adults, and Coping.

Advancements in computer technology have allowed the development of human-appearing and -behaving virtual agents. This study examined if increased richness and anthropomorphism in interface design lead to computers being more influential during a decision-making task with a human partner. In addition, user experiences of the communication format, communication process, and the task partner were evaluated for their association with various features of virtual agents. Study participants completed the Desert Survival Problem (DSP) and were then randomly assigned to one of five different computer partners or to a human partner (who was a study confederate). Participants discussed each of the items in the DSP with their partners and were then asked to complete the DSP again. Results showed that computers were more influential than human partners but that the latter were rated more positively on social dimensions of communication than the former. Exploratory analysis of user assessments revealed that some features of human–computer interaction (e.g. utility and feeling understood) were associated with increases in anthropomorphic features of the interface. Discussion focuses on the relation between user perceptions, design features, and task outcomes.

Interactivity in human–computer interaction: a study of credibility, understanding, and influence

A major consideration in designing and adopting new communication technologies is their impact on communication processes and outcomes. One way to understand this impact is according to the principle of interpersonal interactivity.Findings from two investigations are reported here that address how properties of task-related communication conducted with differing interfaces relate to perceptions of interaction partners and the outcomes of their collaborative work. Study 1 manipulated the interface affordances of mediation, contingency, and modality richness. Study 2 examined the affordance of mediation. Results show that interfaces that promote higher mutuality and involvement lead to more favorable perceptions of partners' credibility and attraction, and those perceptions are systematically related to higher-quality decisions and more influence. Discussion focuses on the relation between user perceptions, design features, and task outcomes in human-computer interaction and computer-mediated communication.

Testing the interactivity model: communication processes, partner assessments, and the quality of collaborative work

the public that they deserve to be Judith Perrolle are deserving of its confidence and self-regulating. Self-regulation deembodiment of a set of commitments respect, and of increased social and pends on ways to deter unethical of that association’s members. Someeconomic rewards” [S]. behavior of the members, and a times these commitments are exThe final and most important code, combined with an ethics review pressed as rules and sometimes as function of a code of ethics is its role board, was seen as the solution. ideals, but the essential social funcas an aid to individual decision makCodes of ethics have tended to list tion is to clarify and formally state ing. In the interest of facilitating betpossible violations and threaten sancthose ethical requirements that are ter ethical decision making, we have tions for such violations. ACM’s first important to the group as a profesdeveloped a set of nine classes that code, the Code of Professional Consional association. The new ACM describe situations calling for ethical duct, was adopted in 1972 and folCode of Ethics and Professional Condecision making. These cases address lowed this model. The latest ACM duct follows this philosophy. in turn the topics of intellectual code, the Code of Ethics and ProfesRecent codes of ethics emphasize property, privacy, confidentiality, sional Conduct, was adopted in 1992 socialization or education rather than professional quality, fairness or disand takes a new direction. enforced compliance. A code can crimination, liability, software risks, ACM and many other societies work toward the collective good even conflicts of interest, and unauthorhave had difficulties implementing though it may be a mere distillation ized access to computer systems. an ethics review system and came to of collective experience and reflecWithin each case we begin with a realize that self-regulation depends tion. A major benefit of an educascenario to illustrate a typical ethical mostly on the consensus and committionally oriented code is its contribudecision point and then lay out the ment of its members to ethical behavtion to the group by clarifying the different imperatives (principles) of ior. Now the most important rationprofessionals’ responsibility to socithe new Code of Ethics that pertain ale for a code of ethics is an ety. to that decision. There are 24 princi-

A. Mickunas

Papers

The Underside of High-Tech: Technology and the Deformation of Human Sensibilities@@@Computers and Social Change: Information, Property, and Power