ABSTRACT
In recent years, the Internet is increasingly used for social interactions and collaborations. e emergence of social networking web sites (e.g., https://www.myspace.com, https://www.facebook. com, and https://www.linkedin.com) and virtual worlds (e.g., https://www.secondlife.com and https://www.activeworlds.com) show the growing tendency to use the Internet to interact with others online (Lipsman, 2007). Also, the popularity of traditional ways of online communication (e.g., chats and discussion boards) is constantly increasing. In a survey, Horrigan et al. (2001) found that 84% of Internet users had used an online community. In addition to retrieving information from the Internet, people are now starting to use online settings to meet other people, develop friendships, play, and exchange experiences and support (Preece and Ghozati, 2001; Verhaagen, 2005; Bausch and Han, 2006; Lipsman, 2007). What does this new trend mean for the research area of inclusive design? Can online communities be facilitated to support people with disabilities and older people in their daily life?
