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E-Community

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Recent advances in information technology have brought many digitalized applications into our lives, such as automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) over the phone, Skype, and Fax-on-Demand, making our lives more convenient than ever. Many of these applications have broken the boundary between analog data and digital data, and the newest developments are toward incorporating various forms of communications into a unified, PC-based messaging platform—including phone calls, e-mails, text messaging and voice mail—allowing users to receive information anytime, anywhere.

When this technological trend is applied to residence or community management, much of the household information can be digitalized and connected with the community information system, which will use a unified messaging platform to send messages to our computer, telephone, TV, smartphone, or other end user devices, allowing us to have firsthand information about our community, deepening our participation in community affairs and enhancing our community awareness.

This is what we call “e-community” and “e-life”.

What are the differences between an “e-community” and a “non e-community”?

For example, when a suspicious event happens in a community without informationized management, concerned residents can only visit the community office to review video surveillance records to find clues related to that event. In contrast, residents in an “e-community” can view real-time and historical videos of their community on their TVs in the comfort of their homes, or by logging into the community website from a computer, smartphone or any other portables device wherever they are.

Living in an “e-community”, residents can also query and browse other information about their community via the Internet, for example, searching for upcoming events or checking the power usage of their community. With informationized community management, the community management committee or an outsourced company can send notices and messages to residents via a computerized community management system. The management system can also be linked to a contracted security company to provide more services.

Such digital trends are making the management of a community more convenient and efficient and improving the well-being of community residents.

Source: Adlionk: E-Community Enabling a Smarter Life