Service employment analysis on home-use trial of regional computer communication network system

In order to provide new convenient PC communication service to regional communities, we have proposed a regional computer communication network system that can offer a LAN environment to residential customers and small business users economically. It provides a group communication service that creates a regional community network among registered members. To evaluate the system's effectiveness and accumulate know-how of user support, we started a home-use trial for housewives and children in October 1995. This paper describes how it was used and what support is needed for community network operations, based on a traffic data analysis. The relationship between user communications and the group formation process provided through the sociogram *1 analysis for mail traffic is also considered. The results show that the system is effective for forming regional communities and that the support of the forum leader is important.