The originator of the term “virtual community”, discusses the past, present and future on online communities.

The BBC Digital Revolution Blog made available the unedited version of a video interview with Howard Rheingold.

In the 14 minute coverage Rheingold, who serves as a visiting lecturer in Stanford University’s Department of Communication where he teaches two courses, “Digital Journalism” and “Virtual Communities and Social Media”, touches upon why he thinks virtual communities are an important aspect of our modern lives and how they compare to real world (physical) communities.

He also dives into the implications that virtual communities and the idea of belonging to a trans-national community have for the traditional nation states.