An integrative framework for knowledge extraction in collaborative virtual environments

ABSTRACT

Collaborative virtual environments are becoming an intrinsic part of professional practices. In addition to providing collaboration support, they have the potential to collect vast amounts of data about collaborative activities. The aim of this research is to utilize this data effectively, extract meaningful insights out of it and feeding discovered knowledge back into the environment. The paper presents a framework for integrating knowledge discovery techniques with collaborative virtual environments, starting from early conceptual development. Discovered patterns are deposited in an organizational memory which makes these available within the virtual environment. Two examples of the application of the framework are included.

REFERENCES

• 1: Mark S. Ackerman, Augmenting the organizational memory: a field study of answer garden, Proceedings of the 1994 ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work, p.243-252, October 22-26, 1994, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States [doi>10.1145/192844.193019]
• 2: Ansari, S., Kohavi, R., Mason, L., and Zheng, Z. Integrating e-commerce and data mining: Architecture and challenges. In WEBKDD 2000 Workshop: Web Mining for E-Commerce - Challenges and Opportunities, 2000.
• 3: Liam J. Bannon , Kari Kuutti, Shifting Perspectives on Organizational Memory: From Storage to Active Remembering, Proceedings of the 29th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) Volume 3: Collaboration Systems and Technology, p.156, January 03-06, 1996
• 4: Berthold, M.R., Sudweeks, F., Newton, S., and Coyne, R. Clustering on the net: Applying an autoassociative neural network to computer-mediated discussions. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 2, 4 (1997). (Available at: http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol2/issue4/berthold.html).
• 5: Michael R. Berthold , Fay Sudweeks , Sid Newton , Richard D. Coyne, “It makes sense”: using an autoassociative neural network to explore typicality in computer-mediated discussions, Network and Netplay: virtual groups on the Internet, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1998
• 6: Robert P. Biuk-Aghai , Igor T. Hawryszkiewycz, Analysis of Virtual Workspaces, Proceedings of the 1999 International Symposium on Database Applications in Non-Traditional Environments, p.325, November 28-30, 1999
• 7: Capin, T.K., Pandzic, I.S., Magnenat-Thalman, N., and Thalman, D. Avatars in Networked Virtual Environments. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 1999.
• 8: Chen, C. Information Visualization and Virtual Environments. Springer-Verlag, London, UK, 1999.
• 9: Conklin, E.J. Capturing organizational memory. In Baecker, R.M., ed. Readings in Groupware and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Assisting Human-Human Collaboration. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 1993, 561-565.
• 10: Usama M. Fayyad , Gregory Piatetsky-Shapiro , Padhraic Smyth, From data mining to knowledge discovery: an overview, Advances in knowledge discovery and data mining, American Association for Artificial Intelligence, Menlo Park, CA, 1996
• 11: Furst, S., Blackburn, R., and Rosen, B. Virtual team effectiveness: A proposed research agenda. Information Systems Journal 9, 4 (1999), 249-269.
• 12: Chris Greenhalgh, Large Scale Collaborative Virtual Environments, Springer-Verlag, London, 1999
• 13: Carl Gutwin , Saul Greenberg, Design for individuals, design for groups: tradeoffs between power and workspace awareness, Proceedings of the 1998 ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work, p.207-216, November 14-18, 1998, Seattle, Washington, United States [doi>10.1145/289444.289495]
• 14: Hawryszkiewycz, I.T. Workspace networks for knowledge sharing. In Debrency, R., and Ellis, A., eds. Proceedings of AusWeb99, The Fifth Australian World Wide Web Conference, 1999, 219-227. (Available at: http://ausweb.scu. edu.au/aw99/papers/hawryszkiewycz/paper.html).
• 15: Ishii, H., Kobayashi, M., and Grudin, J. Integration of interpersonal space and shared workspace: Clearboard design and experiments. In Greenberg, S., Hayne, S., and Rada, R., eds. Groupware for Real-Time Drawing: A Designer's Guide. McGraw-Hill, Berkshire, England, 1995, 96-125.
• 16: Donald E. Knuth, The art of computer programming, volume 1 (3rd ed.): fundamental algorithms, Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Redwood City, CA, 1997
• 17: Maher, M.L., Simoff, S.J., and Cicognani, A. Potentials and limitations of virtual design studio, Interactive Construction On-Line, a1 (1997).
• 18: Maher, M.L., Simoff, S.J., and Cicognani, A. Understanding Virtual Design Studios. Springer-Verlag, London, UK, 2000.
• 19: Maher, M.L., Simoff, S.J., Gu, N., and Lau, K.H. Designing virtual architecture. In Proceedings of CAADRIA2000, 2000, 481-490. (Available at: http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/ ~chris_a/MaherPubs/2000pdf/caadria2000. pdf)
• 20: Simoff, S.J. Monitoring and evaluation in collaborative learning environments. In Computer Supported Collaborative Learning, 1999. (Available at: http://kn.cilt.org/cscl99/A83/A83. html).
• 21: Simoff, S.J., and Maher, M.L. Analyzing participation in collaborative design environments. Design Studies 21, (2000), 119-144.
• 22: Simoff, S.J., and Maher, M.L. Loosely integrated open virtual environments as places. Learning Technology 3, 1 (2001). (Available at: http://lttf.ieee.org/learn_tech/issues/ january2001/index.html#3).
• 23: Myra Spiliopoulou , Carsten Pohle, Data Mining for Measuring and Improving the Success of Web Sites, Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, v.5 n.1-2, p.85-114, January-April 2001 [doi>10.1023/A:1009800113571]
• 24: Sudweeks, F., and Simoff, S.J. Complementary explorative data analysis: The reconciliation of quantitative and qualitative principles. In Jones, S., ed. Doing Internet Research. Sage Publications, 2000, 29-5.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.m Miscellaneous

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT
      H.2.8 Database applications
          Subjects: Data mining
  H.4 INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
      H.4.1 Office Automation
          Subjects: Groupware

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Human Factors, Theory

Keywords:
collaborative virtual environment, knowledge extraction, virtual collaboration