DECO 2010 Collaborative Virtual Environments Coordinator: Dr. Xiangyu WANG Course website: Demonstrator: Irene Chen (rche0750[at]mail.usyd.edu.au )

Agenda for today General InformationGeneral Information Lecture PlanLecture Plan Overall presentation of the unit:Overall presentation of the unit: –What is this course about –Basic concepts

General Information Lecture notes, exercises, updated unit information etc. could be found in course websiteLecture notes, exercises, updated unit information etc. could be found in course website Mailing list - used for urgent messages onlyMailing list - used for urgent messages only Office Hour:Office Hour: –Wednesday 5-6, Room 274A (Wilkinson Building)

General Information Lectures notes will be available on the Web in ppt format before the lecture. Readings are linked as PDF format. They are part of the syllabus.Lectures notes will be available on the Web in ppt format before the lecture. Readings are linked as PDF format. They are part of the syllabus. Possible addition/changes to the syllabus will be communicated at lecture updated on website.Possible addition/changes to the syllabus will be communicated at lecture updated on website.

Studio Tutorial Time: 3-5 WednesdayTutorial Time: 3-5 Wednesday –Tutorials –Individual Exercises –Design Project Development The demonstrator will be in charge.The demonstrator will be in charge.

Lecture Plan See Unit WebpageSee Unit Webpage

Objectives and Outcomes Objectives: 1. To introduce concepts and techniques for synchronous and asynchronous communication 2. To develop an understanding of communication and representation of design models in a computer-mediated collaborative design project 3. To develop skills in using collaborative technologiesObjectives: 1. To introduce concepts and techniques for synchronous and asynchronous communication 2. To develop an understanding of communication and representation of design models in a computer-mediated collaborative design project 3. To develop skills in using collaborative technologies Outcomes: 1. An understanding of the similarities and differences of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication 2. Skills in the use and extension of collaborative tools such as , shared whiteboards, blogs, virtual worlds, web-based project management, and version control development environments 3. Gain experience in developing a collaborative design product using the tools above to support your collaborative processOutcomes: 1. An understanding of the similarities and differences of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication 2. Skills in the use and extension of collaborative tools such as , shared whiteboards, blogs, virtual worlds, web-based project management, and version control development environments 3. Gain experience in developing a collaborative design product using the tools above to support your collaborative process

Introduction What is necessary for a group of people to be able to cooperate on a task (e.g., design project)? 3 “C” : Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination.

Group Member Work Together! Relying on contributions from others,Relying on contributions from others, Communicating work results to others,Communicating work results to others, Jointly making decisions,Jointly making decisions, Collaborating with colleagues in the work place,Collaborating with colleagues in the work place, Coordinating activities with others,Coordinating activities with others, Having meetings……Having meetings……

Computers Usage for Collaboration Computers are traditionally used for supporting single-user: Word processors, spread sheets, databases, drawing packages, etc…Computers are traditionally used for supporting single-user: Word processors, spread sheets, databases, drawing packages, etc… Connectivity is the basis for supporting collaboration.Connectivity is the basis for supporting collaboration. Network increases connectivity and provides new opportunities for human-human communication: , news groups, chat, etc…Network increases connectivity and provides new opportunities for human-human communication: , news groups, chat, etc…

Collaborative Virtual Environments Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs) involve the use of networked virtual reality systems to support group work (Benford et al. 1994).Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs) involve the use of networked virtual reality systems to support group work (Benford et al. 1994). The key concept behind CVEs is that of shared virtual worlds: computer-generated spaces whose occupants are represented to one another in graphical form.The key concept behind CVEs is that of shared virtual worlds: computer-generated spaces whose occupants are represented to one another in graphical form. The possibility of including a wide variety of data representations creates the potential to support a broad range of cooperative applications such as training, visualization, simulation, design, and entertainment.The possibility of including a wide variety of data representations creates the potential to support a broad range of cooperative applications such as training, visualization, simulation, design, and entertainment.

Examples of CVEs Representative examples of CVEs include the DIVE system from the Swedish Institute of Computer Science (Fahlén et al. 1993), Collaborative Workspace from NTT (Takemura and Kishino 1992), MASSIVE system (Greenhalgh and Benford 1995), and large-scale military simulation systems such as NPSNET (Zyda et al. 1993).Representative examples of CVEs include the DIVE system from the Swedish Institute of Computer Science (Fahlén et al. 1993), Collaborative Workspace from NTT (Takemura and Kishino 1992), MASSIVE system (Greenhalgh and Benford 1995), and large-scale military simulation systems such as NPSNET (Zyda et al. 1993). A number of commercial services have emerged that deliver social virtual worlds over the Internet (e.g., Alphaworlds and On-Live Traveller).A number of commercial services have emerged that deliver social virtual worlds over the Internet (e.g., Alphaworlds and On-Live Traveller).

An Example of CVE

Facts about This Unit This unit is about using computer-generated collaborative virtual environments for supporting people collaborate together (e.g., design).This unit is about using computer-generated collaborative virtual environments for supporting people collaborate together (e.g., design). Collaborative Virtual Environments/Cooperation technology / GroupwareCollaborative Virtual Environments/Cooperation technology / Groupware –State-of-the-art –Current Problems –Future Trends

Groups and Collaboration In order to provide computer support, an understanding of collaborative work is needed:In order to provide computer support, an understanding of collaborative work is needed: –What is a group? What characterizes a group? –What is collaborative work? What characterizes collaborative work?

Group Teams, committees, meetings, football teams, surgery teams, orchestras,....Teams, committees, meetings, football teams, surgery teams, orchestras,.... Two distinct characteristics:Two distinct characteristics: –Closed membership: You can say when you are a member, –Common goal: You all have the same goal (but maybe different motivations!).

Group A group if the members can call themselves “we.” (Bahrdt 1984):A group if the members can call themselves “we.” (Bahrdt 1984): –What about assembly line workers? A collection of people working in a common context to produce a product as the result of the collaboration, where the collaboration itself can be direct/indirect, or be done in a distributed manner. (Bannon and Schmidt 1991).A collection of people working in a common context to produce a product as the result of the collaboration, where the collaboration itself can be direct/indirect, or be done in a distributed manner. (Bannon and Schmidt 1991).

Characteristics of a Group Common goal - objectives Common goal - objectives Size, number of people Size, number of people Personalities: sex, culture, age Personalities: sex, culture, age Technical skills, Technical skills, Experience Experience Tools they have – resources Tools they have – resources Beliefs, values Beliefs, values Communication, collaboration technology Communication, collaboration technology

What is Design Group? Project and development teamProject and development team May consist of diverse, specialized expertsMay consist of diverse, specialized experts May come together to produce a one-time output, a designMay come together to produce a one-time output, a design Whenever their work is complete, the project team disbands and the return to their units, or move to other project teamsWhenever their work is complete, the project team disbands and the return to their units, or move to other project teams Temporary structureTemporary structure Relationships are short-lived, and interactions are temporaryRelationships are short-lived, and interactions are temporary

Group Tasks Generate ideas, create tasks, generate plans Generate ideas, create tasks, generate plans Choose a preferred solution Choose a preferred solution Negotiate conflicting views Negotiate conflicting views Execute in competition with an opponent Execute in competition with an opponent

Collaborative work: Definitions “...multiple individuals working together in a planned way in the same production process or in different but connected production processes.” Marx (1867),“...multiple individuals working together in a planned way in the same production process or in different but connected production processes.” Marx (1867), “All work is essentially collaborative, in that it depends on others for its successful performance.” (Ehn 1988),“All work is essentially collaborative, in that it depends on others for its successful performance.” (Ehn 1988),

Collaborative work: Definitions “People engage in cooperative work when they are mutually dependent in their work, and therefore are required to collaborate in order to get the work done.” (Schmidt and Bannon 1992).“People engage in cooperative work when they are mutually dependent in their work, and therefore are required to collaborate in order to get the work done.” (Schmidt and Bannon 1992). “The interdependence of multiple actors who interact through changing the state of a common field of work.” (Schmidt in Divitini et al. 1996).“The interdependence of multiple actors who interact through changing the state of a common field of work.” (Schmidt in Divitini et al. 1996).

Characteristics of collaborative work (Schmidt and Bannon 1992) Collaborative work is complex!Collaborative work is complex! Collaborative work can be collocated or distributed physically, in time and place,Collaborative work can be collocated or distributed physically, in time and place, Collaborative work involves incommensurate perspectives as well as incongruent strategies and discordant motives.Collaborative work involves incommensurate perspectives as well as incongruent strategies and discordant motives.