The ICTs-mediated collaboration as a system of social activity

This paper aims to provide a theoretical-methodological foundation for the understanding of social implications of emerging technologies. It argues that such an understanding requires a dialogical interaction between computer science and social theory. The argument is grounded within a critical analysis of the computer science discourse on ICTs-mediated collaboration in relation to the model of collaboration as a system of social activity. The paper outlines the model of collaboration as a system of social activity. This model represents collaboration as a co-production of knowledge in the process of a critical re-negotiation of ideas. This activity is shaped both by social contexts and the means mediating the production and exchange of knowledge. This model helps reveal the limitations of computer science paradigms currently shaping the development of technological tools which aim to support human collaboration. The paper maintains that the network paradigm reduces the entire issue of ICTs-mediated collaboration to the development of platforms. The communication paradigm encourages to approach of collaboration as merely a connection rather than as a co-production of meaning. The production paradigm is suitable for an analysis of group interaction in a virtual environment, rather than as an understanding of a large-scale collaborative production of new scientific knowledge.