Collaboration n Frequently people need to cooperate n

Collaboration n Frequently people need to cooperate n n n create/modify documents, drawings, designs Cooperate in processes by sharing information Two key ways n at different times (asynchronously) n n see changes previous workers have made simultaneously (synchronously) n actions taken by user must be seen immediately

Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) n n Def. : “the study of how people work together using computer technology” Traditional examples of systems: n n n email shared databases/hypertext video conferencing chat systems real-time shared applications n collaborative writing, drawing, games

Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) n Newer examples of systems: n n n Workflow Meeting support Collaborative leaning Collaborative design Mobile applications

Groupware n Groupware denotes the technology that people use to work together n n “systems that support groups of people engaged in a common task (or goal) and that provide an interface to a shared environment. ” CSCW studies the use groupware n “CSCW is the study of the tools and techniques of groupware as well as their psychological, social, and organizational effects. ”

Distributed Systems/Technology n n n Systems and/or technology implementing goupware Programs are always synchronous Typical issues n n What kind of architecture the system will have Which type of communication it will use Platform Middleware, tools

Types of Cooperation n Focused partnerships n users who need each other to complete a task n n n often a document or image to work on e. g. , joint authors of a paper Lecture or demo n person shares info. with users at remote sites n n questions may be asked may wish to keep history and be able to replay

Types of Cooperation (cont. ) n Conference n group participation distributed in space n n at same time or spread out over time Structured work process n a set of people w/ distinct roles solve task n n e. g. , hiring committee accepts applications, reviews, invites top for interviews, chooses, informs aka “work flow” or “task flow”

Types of Cooperation (cont. ) n Meeting and decision support n meeting w/ each user working at a computer n n e. g. , PDA Brainstorming tool Tele-democracy n online town hall meetings

Groupware Taxonomy Asynchronous Same place project scheduling, in/out board games, classrooms, Distributed e-mail, netnews, writing chat rooms, video conf. , netmeeting RCS, CAD,

Key Issues n n Group awareness Multi-user interfaces n n Concurrency control n n hard to design/conduct controlled experiments consistency and reconciliation Communication & coordination n n can’t see each other -> lose visual cues floor control

Key Issues (cont. ) n Latency n n n e. g. , user points at an object and talk Security and privacy more. . .

Asynchronous Implementation Issues n n Each user may have own copy of data Must integrate changes at some point n n example: programmers working on source Problems when conflicts between changes n lock portions of work n n keeps state well defined, although doesn’t stop semantically incompatible changes resolve conflicts via integration mechanism

Synchronous Implementation Issues n n >=Two users working on same data, at the same time, in cooperation Extend Model View Controller (MVC) n n views & copies of the model are distributed Propagate command history n n must resolve conflicts among N histories at what level are commands? n mouse position not good enough (e. g. , different font sizes, etc. )

Social Issues n Can these technologies replace human interaction? n n n can you send a “handshake” or a “hug” how does intimacy survive? Are too many social cues lost? n n facial expressions and body language for enthusiasm, disinterest, anger will new cues develop? e. g. , : )

Groupware Successes n Email n n n Newsgroups and mailing lists Videoconferencing n n ubiquitous (your grandparents have it? ) growing slowly but steadily Workflow n already mature

Groupware Successes (cont. ) n Lotus Notes n n n integrates email, newsgroups, call tracking, status, DB searching, document sharing, & scheduling very successful in corporations Google

Groupware Failures n Shared calendars n n making a come back? web-based? Why does groupware fail? (Grudin) n n n disparity between workers & beneficiaries threats to existing power structures insufficient critical mass (Web reduces) violation of social taboos rigidity that counters common practice or exceptions

Success/Failure of Groupware n Depends on alternatives n n If users are committed to system, etiquette & conventions will evolve tend to arise from cultural & task background n users from different orgs or cultural contexts may clash Synchronous systems that work well for 2 users may be less effective w/ more users n n collaborators down the hall or across country?