WWW: Beyond the Basics

4. Collaboration

by George Chin Jr.

ABSTRACT

The World Wide Web (WWW) represents an expansive, pervasive medium for communications. As a communications infrastructure, the WWW offers immense opportunities for users to collaborate on activities and work. In this chapter, we examine how users collaborate over the WWW. First, we examine the various kinds of computer-mediated communications mechanisms, shared artifact mechanisms, and collaboration frameworks that are required to support collaborative interaction. Next, we survey the WWW to identify various forms of collaboration in which WWW users participate. We seek to identify the kinds of collaborative activities and work that users perform over a computer network. Finally, we present and examine some of the underlying social and organizational issues associated with computer-supported collaboration.

CHAPTER CONTENT

  1. Introduction
  2. Technologies for Collaboration
    1. Computer-Mediated Communications Mechanisms
    2. Shared Artifact Mechanisms
    3. Collaboration Frameworks
      1. Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs) and MUDs Object-Oriented (MOOs)
      2. Graphical Virtual Worlds
      3. Newsgroups and Discussion Groups
      4. Review and Annotation Systems
  3. Classes of Collaboration
    1. Professional Work
      1. Meetings and Conferences
      2. Collaborative Writing
      3. Collaborative Research
      4. Remote Equipment Operation / Remote Data Collection and Analysis
      5. Project Management
    2. Education and Training
      1. Lectures and Presentations
      2. Situated Experience
      3. Expert Advice
      4. Collaborative Simulations
      5. Collaborative Writing
      6. Academic Expositions and Fairs
    3. Entertainment and Social Activities
      1. Social Forums
      2. Games and Roleplaying
      3. Entertainment Reviews
      4. Sports and Hobbies
      5. Artistic and Literary Pursuits
    4. Commerce
      1. Purchases
      2. Reservations and Appointments
      3. Expositions and Conventions
      4. Advertisements
  4. Social and Organizational Issues
    1. Development of On-Line Virtual Communities
    2. Social and Psychological Impact
    3. Breaking Social and Cultural Barriers
    4. Construction of Group Knowledge
    5. Telepresence
  5. Future of Collaboration on the WWW
References

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Copyright © 1996 George Chin Jr., All Rights Reserved

George Chin <chin@csgrad.cs.vt.edu>
Last modified: Tue Dec 10 16:00:00 1996