Collaboratory life: Observations on scholarship via the Internet Thomas A. Finholt Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work School of Information The University of Michigan

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt A problem statement “There is a growing mountain of research...the investigator is staggered by the findings and conclusions of thousands of other workers...” “...our methods of transmitting and reviewing the results of research are generations old and by now are totally inadequate for their purpose...” “The difficulty seems to be, not so much that we publish unduly in view of the extent and variety of present-day interests, but rather that publication has been extended far beyond our present ability to make real use of the record.”

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt “As we may think” “memex” -- a device in which individuals store all their books, records, and communications, and which...may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility “links” -- associations between information “trails” -- persistent records of information searches across multiple sources Vannevar Bush, author of “As we may think”

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt As we may work... electronic resources (e.g., the Web) represent a tremendous opportunity gains for scholars are possible...but not automatic the challenge: How to maximize the likelihood of positive change?

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt An old pattern More Time Performance Less hype raw performance of technology “real performance” “reality gap”

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Interdisciplinary synergy Behavioral & Organizational Science Computer & Communication Science The User’s Domain

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Human-centered design Build : Rapid prototyping Trials : Deploy, use, evaluate. Modify : extend design, evolution Conceptualize : Interview, Observe & Define objects in current practice; establish baseline. “living specification”

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt A testbed for human-centered design “a laboratory without walls” support for work among geographically distributed scholars 1993 National Academy Report –National Academy Press 2101 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC fund several prototype systems

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt The collaboratory vision Digital libraries &electronic publishing groups-to-information groups-to-facilities people-to-people Communication, Collaboration Services Distributed, media-rich information technology Remote instruments

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt University of Michigan Digital Library (UMDL) one of 6 large projects funded under the NSF/DARPA/NASA Digital Library Initiative centerpiece of a range of digital library projects at Michigan initial deployment in schools

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt The UMDL approach a system to support large-scale information collections and services in a heterogeneous environment “agent-based” -- software that mediates between information sources and users easy integration of new and legacy collections services tailored to users’ abilities and history of use

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt UIA TPA RA CIA Registration process CIA Registration of collections

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt UIA TPA RA CIA Registration process Collection search -- find CIAs CIA Collection search

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt UIA TPA RA CIA Registration process Conspectus search -- find CIAs Information retrieval -- get documents CIA Information retrieval

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt UIA TPA RA CIA Registration process Conspectus search -- find CIAs Document search -- get documents CIA The entire agent-based system

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt The UMDL interface

UMDL Indexes Numeric Data Spatial Data Books Encoded Texts Reference Works Images Journals

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Upper Atmospheric Research Collaboratory (UARC) NSF-funded, 1992 to the present an experimental system for collaborative research over wide-area networks focused on data from ground-based observatories, spacecraft, and supercomputer models

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt The UARC approach Java-based -- to overcome platform dependence designed to accommodate a wide range of “quality of service” used by an international community of 300 scientists

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt The nature of space physics

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Remote observatories Kangerlussauq, Greenland

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt The UARC testbed Chat window Radar displays TING model Session manager Polar UVI

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt UARC scope, 1997

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Access to complementary expertise Past: access limited by time and distance –single PI campaigns –dependence on face-to-face meetings Hypothesis: UARC should increase access –diverse expertise should be available during UARC campaigns

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Pattern of participation, April 1997

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Interaction network, 1997 Utah State Millstone SRI Rice EISCAT HAO NSF SwRI SPRL-3 Scientist Post-doc Student Scientist SPRL-1 Scientist exchanges 6-10 exchanges > 10 exchanges

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Interaction network, 1997 Utah State Millstone SRI Rice EISCAT HAO NSF SwRI SPRL-3 Scientist Post-doc Student Scientist SPRL-1 Scientist exchanges 6-10 exchanges > 10 exchanges

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Interaction network, 1997 Utah State Millstone SRI Rice EISCAT HAO NSF SwRI SPRL-3 Scientist Post-doc Student Scientist SPRL-1 Scientist exchanges 6-10 exchanges > 10 exchanges

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Opportunities for participation Past: limited participation by students –watch, but don’t touch –secondary analysis of data Hypothesis: UARC should create new ways to participate –students will treat UARC like a computer-mediated community of learners

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt “Lurking” Number of conversational turns Participants – Most active to least active FTF UARC

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Experimental paradigms Past: focus on views from instruments –local data; one person = one instrument Hypothesis: UARC should create simultaneous views from multiple instruments –shift in focus to a global perspective –emphasis on phenomena, not instruments

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt Design challenges Access and participation –need to create shared interpretations –problem: absence of metaphors for “group” work involving dozens of scientists New experimental paradigms –need to provide multiple views –problem: overwhelm screen real estate Technology –need to support tightly-coupled work –problem: variable quality of service in current Internet

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt A vehicle for change

Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work CREW Finholt School of Information: Intellectual Linkages School of Information Information & Library Science Business Admin. Psychology Computer Science CREW Economics Org. Theory Education Health Care Units: Research & Practice Design & Fine Arts, Architecture Libraries, Media Union Law School Public Policy Studies Journalism, Communication