Digital Communities (WT 2011/2012)

11. October 2011: Slides, articles and accompanying material for the lecture can be downloaded from https://www.isis.tu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=5361 [1]

The module starts with an introduction to the fundamentals of digital communities and an overview of related concepts. This includes methods and applications for social network analysis as well as online social networks. Then the module introduces concepts for digital identities and discusses current approaches for identification and authentication. After that, additional concepts that are relevant to digital communities are presented, for instance voting, reputation and recommender systems. The module concludes with an overview and discussion of the latest trends and developments in digital communities.

The topics of this module are taught in a classical lecture, which also envisages a related discussion between students and lecturer. Selected topics are further covered in an exercise course with frequent assignments. Each assignment contains several problems, which are to be solved by the students. During practical lessons, the solutions are then presented and discussed.

Students who have successfully finished this module have an overview of current and future concepts for digital communities. They have developed an understanding of the principles of social network analysis, and have learned about the concepts of digital identities and online social networks. However, they are also aware of the limitations and privacy issues of digital communities. Furthermore, they have developed an understanding of related topics such as reputation and recommender systems and online voting. The course is principally designed to impart

• technical skills: 40%
• method skills: 30%
• system skills: 20%
• social skills: 10%

Master students of

• Computer Science (Informatik) / Kommunikationsbasierte Systeme
• Computer Engineering (Technische Informatik) / Informationssysteme

An oral examination is offered, which lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. The examination is graded according to the rules of the respective examination regulations. It is required to register for the oral examination. Please check the homepage of the professorship (http://www.snet.tu-berlin.de/menue/teaching/winter_term_2011_2012/ [3]) for free examination appointments. For registering, please send an email to the team assistance and include your name, matriculation number, and degree program. Please note that the registration is obligatory, and a rejection is only possible in urgent cases of exception. The examination is rated as failed in cases of absence without valid excuse. This does not have impact on possibly contradicting rules of the respective examination regulation.

• Stanley Wassermann and Katherine Faust: Social Network Analysis, Cambridge University Press, 2009
• Mark Newman: Networks - An Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2010
• Further material will be made available during class