Groupware Plugins: A Case Study of Extending Collaboration Functionality through Media Items Gregor McEwan, Saul Greenberg, Michael Rounding, Michael Boyle University of Calgary
Message Plugins can allow people to extend and customise groupware for their own collaborative needs.
Scenario Mike R. Mike B. Saul
Scenario Mike R. Mike B. Saul Server
Scenario Mike R. Mike B. Saul Server
Scenario Mike R. Mike B. Saul Server
Single user systems use plugins Example: Google Sidebar – personal information in sidebar
Single user systems use plugins Example: Google Sidebar – personal information in sidebar – expand tooltip for detail
Single user systems use plugins Example: Google Sidebar – personal information in sidebar – expand tooltip for detail Google provides base application
Single user systems use plugins Example: Google Sidebar – personal information in sidebar – expand tooltip for detail Google provides base application Plugin developer fills in content
Plugins for groupware Why not do the same for groupware?
Base system: Community Bar Peripheral side bar Multiple Places Transient tooltip grande Separate full view Place “mike test” Place “ilab” Place “G-place” Place “CSCW class”
[video] Video not included here…
Media Item Views
Community Bar Plugins
Scenario Mike R. Mike B. Saul Server
Photo Sharing Saul Server Photo Item Mike R. Mike B.
Server Photo Item Server Photo Item picture: Photo Sharing Saul Mike R. Mike B.
Mike R. Mike B. Server Photo Item picture: Photo Sharing Saul
Media Item Testing and Debugging
Testing Average programmers –No previous groupware programming experience Class assignment –Create an interesting media item –2 weeks –Short tutorial to start
Ex: AIBO Awareness (Jim Young)
Ex: Cambience Item (Rob Diaz-Marino) Audience Owner
Ex: Public Web Item (Stephanie Smale)
Ex: Photo Gallery (John McDonald)
Ex: Blog Reader (Jordan Schaan)
Ex: Screen Sharing (Kimberly Tee, to appear in CSCW 2006) Owner Audience
Summary Easy fundamentals – place in a groupware application – networking aspects Developers can concentrate on interesting interaction functionality
Message A plugin architecture can enable groups to extend and customise groupware for their own collaborative needs.
Download and use Community Bar (and build Media Items!)
Extra slides These following slides were not used in the presentation
Single user example base systems
Plugin examples Firefox (~1500) – FireFoxMenuButtons –Forecastfox –StumbleUpon Google Sidebar (~100) – News –Weather –System Monitor