Michael Hauben
Encyclopedia
Michael Hauben was a computer
specialist and author, interested in the transformative social effects of online communities
and the latent political power of the Internet
. In 1992 he coined the term Netizen
to describe an Internet user who possesses a sense of civic responsibility for her/his virtual community
in much the same way citizens would feel responsible for a physical community.
Hauben received degrees from Columbia University
and was a fixture on the Columbia campus for over ten years. Along with his mother, Ronda Hauben, he co-authored the 1997 book Netizens : On the History and Impact of Usenet and the Internet, ISBN 0-8186-7706-6. He was an avid music
fan, contributing one of the original web sites for band listings in existence.
There is some confusion over the circumstances of his death on June 27, 2001. Most online sources refer to the effects of injuries upon being hit by a taxicab in December 1999. Other quotes from those who knew him indicate he had become increasingly troubled for reasons not necessarily linked to his physical injuries. The "tech bust"
of the late 1990s and early 2000s had severely thinned the ranks of prospective employers, and Hauben was finding it difficult to obtain even basic medical care and money for rent. When news of his death came, many assumed suicide
.
A statement by his mother appeared to tacitly support that assumption: "I don't know why we lost Michael. I do know that someone who had contributed so much and had such potential for continuing contributions needed a way of finding help with these burdens.".http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/9/9180/1.html
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
specialist and author, interested in the transformative social effects of online communities
Virtual community
A virtual community is a social network of individuals who interact through specific media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals...
and the latent political power of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. In 1992 he coined the term Netizen
Netizen
The term Netizen is a portmanteau of the English words internet and citizen. It is defined as an entity or person actively involved in online communities and a user of the internet, especially an avid one. The term can also imply an interest in improving the internet, especially in regard to open...
to describe an Internet user who possesses a sense of civic responsibility for her/his virtual community
Virtual community
A virtual community is a social network of individuals who interact through specific media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals...
in much the same way citizens would feel responsible for a physical community.
Hauben received degrees from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and was a fixture on the Columbia campus for over ten years. Along with his mother, Ronda Hauben, he co-authored the 1997 book Netizens : On the History and Impact of Usenet and the Internet, ISBN 0-8186-7706-6. He was an avid music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
fan, contributing one of the original web sites for band listings in existence.
There is some confusion over the circumstances of his death on June 27, 2001. Most online sources refer to the effects of injuries upon being hit by a taxicab in December 1999. Other quotes from those who knew him indicate he had become increasingly troubled for reasons not necessarily linked to his physical injuries. The "tech bust"
Early 2000s recession
The early 2000s recession was a decline in economic activity which occurred mainly in developed countries. The recession affected the European Union mostly during 2000 and 2001 and the United States mostly in 2002 and 2003. The UK, Canada and Australia avoided the recession for the most part, while...
of the late 1990s and early 2000s had severely thinned the ranks of prospective employers, and Hauben was finding it difficult to obtain even basic medical care and money for rent. When news of his death came, many assumed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
A statement by his mother appeared to tacitly support that assumption: "I don't know why we lost Michael. I do know that someone who had contributed so much and had such potential for continuing contributions needed a way of finding help with these burdens.".http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/9/9180/1.html