Human Communication and Technology Division
Letter from the Co-Chairs, HCTD


No division in NCA should have more to contribute to the San Antonio
convention theme of "Creating Sites for Connection and Action". We are, after all, the division most concerned with web sites, Blogs, portals,
virtual communities, interactive games, and the communication
technologies most often used to create "sites" that connect people with
information and each other. Where else in NCA will you find panels that
go beyond connection to ask questions about virtual accountability and
the effects of mobile technology on pedagogy and administration.

It should be no surprise, then, that we have an exciting program of
papers and panels scheduled at this years convention in San Antonio. We have 21 time slots scheduled throughout the convention, and additional papers scheduled in this year's Scholar to Scholar sessions. If you want to learn about the new technologies that are powering new ways of communicating in today's world, there are plenty of interesting programs to choose from discussing such wide ranging communication technologies as Blogs, E-mail, mobile telephones, games, virtual groups, online libraries, Powerpoint presentations, social spaces, and web sites. In addition to "virtual accountability", issues will be raised about gender and sex roles, identity, and connecting families using communications technologies. A wide range of theoretical perspectives will be explored as well.

Plan to spend Saturday in Convention Center Room 217C, where we will host HCTD's "Top Four Student Papers" at 12:30pm, our "Top Four Papers" in Human Communication and Technology" at 2:00pm, and the divisional Business Meeting at 3:30pm. The top four paper sessions represent this years best work in exploring the implications of communication technology for human communication. Top four papers this year explore such diverse themes as the importance of online communication for maintaining the post-Hurricane extended community of New Orleans, factors associated with credible health communication web sites, dealing with mobile technology in the classroom, and understanding the human tendency to personalize computers. Top student papers explore online relationships, computer-mediated decision making, the Rhetoric of Facebook, and the ethics of Hacktivism.

Scott D'Urso and Yun Xia have done a great job of planning this years convention, so its only appropriate that you show up at the HCTD business meeting to congratuate them on doing a great job and applaud their elevation to division co-chairs. HCTD has grown into one of the larger NCA divisions, with over 500 members and additional clout on the NCA legislative assembly. The business meeting is not only a time for giving awards, electing officers, and thanking people for exemplary service. Its a place where we can make important decisions about the conduct of our division, the nature of our ongoing interaction with each other, and the key issues facing NCA in the legislative assembly. We look forward to seeing you there, and particularly encourage people to consider running for office in HCTD.

See you in San Antonio!

----Davis Foulger and Andy Finn, co-chairs, HCTD, 2006