Minitrack Introduction

Persistent conversation is human-to-human interaction carried out over computer networks; it is produced by typing, speaking, or other means. Unlike face-to-face conversation, however, it leaves a trace-- in the form of text on a computer screen, sound files, etc.--that persists for varying amounts of time. Examples of persistent conversation include interactions carried out via group chat, IM, texting, MUDs, email, newsgroups, web boards, blogs, wikis, 3-D virtual environments, and other digital media.