Community in the network society
Many social relationships are now sustained by technologies of remote communication, which makes a difference to our sense of community and may affect levels of neighbourliness. From pioneering work on the potential of new computer technologies in low-income neighbourhoods, to  new opportunities being presented by mobile devices and location mapping, I've been involved in trying to understand how the changes implied in the uses of the technology relate to social interactions. On this theme I've worked with the Social Exclusion Unit, the Office of the e-envoy, the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office, the British Council, the Brazilian government and various European agencies, and I served as a trustee for Citizens Online from its establishment in 2000 until 2008. Key pieces of work
Following an international seminar organised for the British Council in March 2006, Kevin Harris wrote a paper on the emerging new forms of democracy in relation to e-government systems on the one hand, and social media on the other. The essay argues that social media, exploited by many citizens independently of the official agencies of government or the political college, are far more reflective of 'engaged democracy' than is the e-government 'industry'.
 Engaged democracy in the network societyFollowing a research grant from the RICS Foundation in 2002 Kevin Harris published an article call ed 'Keep your distance,' on face-to-face and online communication and the nature of community, in the Journal of community work and development. 'Keep your distance'
A short policy paper to government on the importance of community-based ICT centres, by Jane Berry, Scott Jones and Kevin Harris, was submitted in 2002.
Kevin Harris was secretary to IBM's 'INSINC' Working Party on social inclusion in the information society, which reported in 1997.
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