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Summary: Getting online but still living offline: the complex relationship of technology
adoption and in-person social networks
Cynthia Putnam and Beth Kolko
University of Washington
Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering
423 Sieg Hall, Seattle,Washington
cyputnam@u.washington.edu -- bkolko@u.washington.edu
Abstract
Previous research in Kyrgyzstan has demonstrated the
importance of close social networks as avenues for gather-
ing and sharing information, assistance and goods in the
country. However, the relationship between technology use
and social network use has not been investigated; under-
standing this relationship is important when considering
the design of technology applications that support existing
social networks. Contrary to Robert Putnam's hypothesis
that technologies have an "individualizing" force on popu-
lations, we have found that social network patterns do not
appear to be negatively associated with higher technology
use. In fact, the higher the level of technology use, the more
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