INTRODUCTION 7 The evidence presented in this chapter suggests that infant communicative action is highly context specific, showing remarkable variability to even subtle alterations of the social· and physical settings in which interaction occurs. The chapter includes reviews of research on affective communication during face-to-face interactions between infants and their social partners, gestu...

We propose an improved theoretical approach to the rich variety of collective action now present in public life. Toward this end, we advance a conception of collective action as communicative in nature, and offer a two-dimensional model of collective action space, comprising dimensions for (a) the mode of interpersonal interaction and (b) the mode of engagement that shapes interaction. We illus...

The paper discusses Sharrock’s and Button’s criticism of our attempt to use Habermas’ communicative action theory to analyze group work platforms. We demonstrate that they misconstrue our goals of the paper, misinterpret our analysis of Habermas’ action types, and misunderstand the concept of critical science. At the end we question the usefulness of these types of debates in furthering CSCW re...

Actions performed in the context of a joint activity comprise two aspects: functional and communicative. The functional component achieves the goal of the action, whereas its communicative component, when present, expresses some information to the actor’s partners in the joint activity. The interpretation of such communication requires leveraging information that is public to all participants, ...

In the opening session, Professor Mike Byram presented a brief overview of some of the concepts associated with the day’s theme and their origins and history. This introduction formed the basis for a discussion of current debates and discussions in the field, and what ‘the field’ includes. The third element was an analysis of what research and (curriculum) development needs and opportunities ex...