Re : From multi-user to collaborative environments
Deborah Pritchard (dpritcha@frmail.frco.com)
Thu, 06 Jun 1996 14:43:57 -0700
Hello list,
by way of introduction, I should say that I am currently engaged in the
final project phase of an MSc in HCI and AI(and acronyms!). The final
project topic concerns the use of low cost collaborative tools over the
Internet. I can't discuss it in any detail because its an industry based
project and I don't want to upset my employers - yet.
The only firm conclusion I have reached so far on required features for
collaborative environments is - it depends on what they are being used
for. Current research(the stuff I have been able to get hold of anyway)
tends to be biased towards authoring, software development, design etc.
and not much on anything else. (I am particularly interested in the
technical support area so if anyone has any info PLEASE contact me.)
I would agree that we need the ability to pass information by various
means but would suggest that with a greater degree of integration between
applications the web could be a good medium. Also a more modular approach
- do we really need video, avatars, whiteboards, etc etc or should we be
thinking of a toolkit approach where we pick-and-mix according to the
situation.(I'm thinking of peoples cognitive overload and the bandwidth
here)? I dunno, I think I'm rambling so I'll stop.
Cheers,
Deb
Software Engineer
Fisher-Rosemount
Leicester, UK
e-mail : pritchard@leic2.frco.com
My opinions are not necessarily the same as my employers - they don't
even know I'm here.