1. Groupware Howell Istance

2. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Groupware n Software designed to support group working, not just to facilitate communication n CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work) - field of study which examines the design, adoption, and use of groupware. n not restricted to issues of "cooperation" or "work" but also examines competition, socialising, and play.

3. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Advantages of Groupware Groupware offers significant advantages over single-user systems. n to facilitate communication: make it faster, clearer, more persuasive n to enable communication where it wouldn't otherwise be possible n to enable telecommuting n to cut down on travel costs

4. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems More advantages of Groupware n to bring together multiple perspectives and expertise n to form groups with common interests where it wouldn't be possible to gather a sufficient number of people face-to- face n to save time and cost in coordinating group work n to facilitate group problem-solving n to enable new modes of communication, such as anonymous interchanges or structured interactions

5. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Classifying Groupware Systems Can be classified by n When and where the participants are working n The function it performs for cooperative working

6. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Time/Space Matrix (when/where) Classify groupware according n 1) when participants are working u at the same time (synchronous) or not (asynchronous) n 2) where the participants are working u in the same place (co-located) or not (remote)

7. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Functions supported by Groupware Cooperative work involves: n Participants (P) who are working n Artefacts (A) upon which they work P P A Control and feedback (Joe)(Bob) (shared document) understanding direct communication

8. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems asynchronous groupware n email (computer mediated communication) n newsgroups (computer mediated communication) n workflow (control of shared objects) n group calendars (control of shared objects) n collaborative writing (control of shared objects)

9. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems synchronous groupware n shared whiteboards (meeting and decision support) n video-conferencing (computer mediated communication) n chat (computer mediated communication) n decision support (meeting and decision support) n games (control of shared objects)

10. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Computer-mediated communication n asynchronous/remote tools u email, bulletin boards, structured message systems (email plus some additional fields to enable sorted and filtering), n asynchronous/co-located u argumentation tools (enable recording of arguments for design decisions n synchronous/remote u video conferencing u meeting and decision support systems n synchronous/co-located u meeting rooms (electronic support for face-to-face meetings)

11. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Collaborative Virtual Environments n Graphical or text-based environments where several people, remotely located, collaborate on some common activity (work-based or for entertainment) n Important to create the illusion of ‘presence’ in the virtual world, to make a person they are ‘in’ the world with other people n Worlds can contain shared artefacts or tools to facilitate collaborative working

12. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems a DIVE model of the atrium at Electrum Between the 2 virtual bodies stands a whiteboard application on which all participants can draw.

13. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems 3D visualisation of a database in DIVE

14. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems ActiveWorlds - a web-based collaborative virtual environment

15. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Greenspace project

16. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Use of Greenspace CVE for design reviews Review of design of hotel rooms

17. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems TeamWave

18. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Tools provided with TeamWave n Address Book n Calendar n Concept Map n Database n Doorway n Fileholder n File Viewer n Image Whiteboard n Meeting Roster n Message Board n Postit n Slide Tool n To Do List n URL Reference n Vote

19. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Design Issues n User Studies n Adoption and Acceptance n Session Control n Floor Control n Determining Conversation Structure n Customisation n Avoiding Abuse n Privacy n Awareness

20. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems User studies n Important to understand work-related needs of users of any system n user group testing is often difficult than for single user systems n pre-established groups vary in interaction style, determined by how long someone has been in a group n groups are dynamic - roles change within groups n testing within organisations difficult as introducing new versions may cause disruption n studies often need to be long-term

21. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Adoption and Acceptance n Perceived benefit - if the effort for an individual to use the system is not perceived to justify the benefit gained n Interoperability - concerns about compatibility between systems available on the market may inhibit adoption of any one system

22. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Session Control n session - a group of people are in a conversation together at a given time, n session control - similar to a person standing at the door of a room checking IDs and deciding who gets to go in. n issues include finding out what rooms are available, determining who can enter and exit the room, and when and how.

23. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Floor Control n access each person has to shared artifacts, or conversational functions n no control enables simultaneous access by anyone at anytime n alternative policies involve some form of ‘turn-taking’

24. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Determining Conversation Structure n Technology mediated conversation - system determines protocol and structure for exchanges of messages n Socially-mediated conversation - how, when and if messages are responded to is left to the individual.

25. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Customisation n Basic conflict between allowing one user to customise their view of information, and then sharing this view with someone else n Leads to possibility of confusion and errors n customisation through u selection of information and emphasis of information u presentation of information (e.g.colours)

26. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Other groupware design issues n Avoiding Abuse u ‘spamming ‘ with email is an example u some form of ‘payment’ for the use of the system is a possible means to reduce this n Privacy u requires a balance between the need to share some information and keep some information private u a mechanism for information hiding necessary n Awareness u issue of making others aware what an individual is currently doing u ‘telepresence’ - feeling of presence of a remotely located person

27. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Examples of awareness and privacy issues Unobtrusive telepresence ‘In-your-face’ obtrusive telepresence

28. SOFT3057 - Interactive Systems Can I be disturbed?