New book on technology in civil society (or vice versa)

Howard Rheingold - who wrote a chapter - notes publication by MIT Press of Shaping the Network Society: The New Role of Civil Society in Cyberspace, Edited by Douglas Schuler and Peter Day
Howard writes: "Information and computer technologies are used every day by real people with real needs. The authors contributing to Shaping the Network Society describe how technology can be used effectively by communities, activists, and citizens to meet society's challenges. In their vision, computer professionals are concerned less with bits, bytes, and algorithms and more with productive partnerships that engage both researchers and community activists. These collaborations are producing important sociotechnical work that will affect the future of the network society."
Many of those - like Doug and Peter - are involved day-to-day in community technology projects, so it looks promising. My question - as usual - is how far it makes sense to study technology-based social and community networking without regard to the wider range of ways people communicate and develop relationships. I guess I'll need to get the book, since there are suggestions in the chapter headings that this is covered. Howard writes on "What Do We Need to Know about the Future We're Creating? Technobiographical Reflections", and Peter and Doug conclude with a piece on "Prospects for a New Public Sphere."
Prerviously: Just how relevant is the Net locally - as a model and a tool?