Do culture and technology interact?: overcoming technological barriers to intercultural communication in virtual communities

Abstract

The following article aims at providing reflections on electronic interculturality and at investigating areas on action for conceptualizing and maintaining international communities. The main question investigated will be: What is specific about intercultural communication in a virtual community and where does this need to be considered? Relevant aspects and categories of virtual intercultural communication will be pointed out from both a software engineering and a communication perspective. The paper will look at opportunities and challenges of virtual communities for intercultural communication with the objective to enable barrier free communication, equal access opportunities and mutual exchange. Areas to be considered when designed the electronic media for the communities are identified.