for more on the conference – go to http://atlasconference.tumblr.com/

My research journeying to where money is being exchanged through online software is taking me into various muddyings of ideology, finance and socio-economic practice – in places of work through play.

click, click, click…

Start with the fluff and move to essentials…. microtransact away… or make essential the fluff (which is a bit different from essentializing fluff…)

[there's an interweaving commentary I have that's being staged in my head on the interweaving of social entrepreneurship, microtransactions, crowdfunding and micropolitics - but you can ask me about that f2f sometime]

Virtual worlds and social networks… looking at crowdfunding, microtransactional software, RMT and so on.

Practices of money exchange have always been “virtual” so this makes me think anew about the binary we have in the internet era – between “virtual” and “real” – in the context of money.

Parallel -ly, examining historical descriptions of finance communities and parallel as well as alternative practices of production, consumption, marketing … seeing how these trajectories allow me to push at the teleology of modernity ….(that [in]visibly underpins various current day political approaches to money and transactions of value).

So reading about Money and Liberation … Micropolitics and microtransactions – money as discourse (but of course it is – I dont see that as “new”) – exchange value, after all, is based on valuing through discourse and practice – and this connects back to Virtual worlds, RMTs and Virtual Economies (at least in my writing that is forthcoming). In that sense I am taking these issues in a different direction than that taken by some researchers of gaming cultures and virtual economies.

A says she sees some parellels between how Sudhir Alladi describes the Chicago “underground” economy and SL economies…

hmmm – I’m not sure I agree myself but can be made to see why she thinks so I am sure

well I am going today – so can discuss this f2f (or cellphone to cellphone locally) at length later this week.
Looking fwd to the “Dhaaram” (thread) shop opening on 10th!

{btw do check out all my shops on SL as well}

Since I will be there only two weeks (thanks to my grad coordinator duties for the summer….) I wont get to the rural areas this time – but the urban Dastkar Andhra work continues. Looking fwd to some more arguing matches with A, S, Sh – shopping for handloom (and SL textures!) with L and A…

Of course – also looking fwd to meeting the rest of the family!
(heh heh;-))

When I get back – I will revise the book proposal on the new SL related book and also finish up the final bits on the edited collection.

Understanding through doing…. the assignment emphasis was less on techical expertise of website building (most of the builders are beginners) and more on attempting to convey the concept that came from the client (as interpreted and understood by each of the groups based in their socio-cultural contextual locations). Is there a concept without an interface?

Feedback from readers is most welcome (you can email me or post to the blog’s comments)

Kang and Shuang’s DAMA site

[our client LT had this to say about the website - "I really like the website as the process and product are well represented. Visuals are overpowering the information. But the information given is very good in terms of stressing the point that handlooms are better than other power driven mill fabrics without an apologetic tone."]

Anca, Bridget and Erin

[our client's final overview comments on this one - "It is a well designed website. Home page gives a clear indication of the nature of the industry and also explains the characters of handloom fabrics at a glance. It is a wee bit patronizing and also it could have stressed on the fact that the fabric is as stylish and contemporary as the fabrics the consumers are using today."]

Andy, Jacob, Mark

[client's comments - DAMA and Products page although starts with a question but flows into a good description of handloom process and industry. But the products itself were very not communicative enough.

The page on the community is very innovative and would encourage a healthy dialogue.

I also like the narrative as it explains the process and its advantages in a good articulate way. Home page is well done and I like the understated feel although there are a few spelling mistakes.]

Dan and Dexin

[client feedback - The main page is very good as the products are featured and it communicates the product effectively.

The potential buyer’s page gives both the buyer and DAMA a very good platform to establish contact, interact and take the business further.]

Amy, Brett, Nikki

[The sub heading ‘Weaving made Natural’ is very good although it sounds as if we made the technology natural but it gets the point across.

Product representation is very good with details of the fabric quality and aesthetic.

Although there is a whole page dedicated to the Natural dyeing process, there is confusion in the product range as the product ranges shown in the web site are both chemical dyed and natural dyed.]

Of course both dana and frank have already detailed their analysis and viewpoints on this… I always appreciate how they blog about the most recent practices and journal their viewpoint and analysis – this becomes useful to me and my advisees as we continue our cyberethnographic explorations.

I have been gifting like crazy – sorta – and have to admit that I am a sucker for one dollar cheapies (besides it’s for a cause as well). To me this is another way in which e-commerce is functioning – perhaps getting what us academics dont always understand that clearly – that online practices are a part of our everyday life. They ARE daily practices – just look at the amount of work and conversation I got through being at home snowed in today – just the same amount (or more) as – if I had driven to my office and gotten back onto the computer…

anyway – here’s to gifting:)

Of course the fact that we had a snow day off made us all feel that being “in class” cheated us out of a holiday so we did not have “class” – but several of us met.

Does that mean I am going to say that my life is enriched by the Internet – hmmm – if you dont know me – you’d probably think that with all my blogging today…

and of COURSE I did not really talk about what I think about the gifting practices – I dont know yet…