Collaboration awareness in support of collaboration transparency: requirements for the next generation of shared window systems

ABSTRACT

Shared window systems enable existing applications to be shared in the context of a real-time teleconference. The development and successful use of several such systems, albeit within limited user communities, testifies to the merits of the basic idea. However, experience to date has suggested a number of areas that have not been adequately addressed, namely: spontaneous interactions, shared workspace management, floor control, and annotation and telepointing. This paper focuses on the ramifications, for the software designer, of various user requirements in these areas. While the recommendations that result are motivated by the desire to enable continued use of collaboration-transparent applications, addressing them involves the development of systems software that is distinctly collaboration-aware.

REFERENCES

• 1: S.R. Ahuja, J.R. Ensor, D.N. Horn, and S.E. Lucco. The Rapport multimedia conferencing system: A software overview. In Proc. 2ndlEEE Conference on Computer Workstations, pages 52-58. IEEE, March 1988.
• 2: S.R. Ahuja, J.R. Ensor, and S.E. Lucco. A comparison of application sharing mechanisms in real-time desktop conferencing systems. Technical report, AT&T Bell Labs. Submitted for publication.
• 3: T. Crowley and H. Forsdick. MMConf: The Diamond multimedia conferencing system. In Proc. Groupware Technology Workshop. IFIP Working Group 8.4, August 1989.
• 4: Susan B. Davidson, Optimism and consistency in partitioned distributed database systems, ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), v.9 n.3, p.456-481, Sept. 1984 [doi>10.1145/1270.1499]
• 5: Desktop Teleconferencing Group. Dialogo: A replicated shared window system. Technical report, Olivetti Research California, in preparation.
• 6: Carmen Egido, Video conferencing as a technology to support group work: a review of its failures, Proceedings of the 1988 ACM conference on Computer-supported cooperative work, p.13-24, September 26-28, 1988, Portland, Oregon, United States [doi>10.1145/62266.62268]
• 7: C. Elias, S.J. Gibbs, and G.L. Rein. Design and use of a group editor. In Proc. Working Conference on Engineering for Human-Computer Interaction. IFTP Working Group 2.7, August 1989.
• 8: D.C. Engelbart. NLS teleconferencing features: The Journal, and shared-screen telephoning. In Proc. Fall COMPCON, pages 173-176. IEEE, September 1975.
• 9: H.C. Forsdick. Exploration.,: in real-time multimedia corfferencing. In Proc. 2nd International Symposium on Computer Message Systems, pages 299-315. IFIP, September 1985.
• 10: Gregg Stanley Foster, Collaborative systems and multi-user interfaces, 1986
• 11: JJ. Garcia Luna Aceves, EJ. Craighill, and R. Lang. Floor management and control for multimedia computer conferecning. In Proc. Multimedia '89" 2nd international Workshop on Multimedia Communications. IEEE Communications Society, April 1989.
• 12: Jonathan Grudin, Why CSCW applications fail: problems in the design and evaluation of organization of organizational interfaces, Proceedings of the 1988 ACM conference on Computer-supported cooperative work, p.85-93, September 26-28, 1988, Portland, Oregon, United States [doi>10.1145/62266.62273]
• 13: P. Gust. Personal communication. February 1989.
• 14: P. Gust. SharedX: X in a distributed group work environment. Presentation at the 2nd Annual X Conference, MaT, january 1988.
• 15: D. Austin Henderson, Jr. , Stuart Card, Rooms: the use of multiple virtual workspaces to reduce space contention in a window-based graphical user interface, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), v.5 n.3, p.211-243, July 1986 [doi>10.1145/24054.24056]
• 16: B. Janssen. Personal communication. February 1988.
• 17: Robert Kraut , Carmen Egido , Jolene Galegher, Patterns of contact and communication in scientific research collaboration, Proceedings of the 1988 ACM conference on Computer-supported cooperative work, p.1-12, September 26-28, 1988, Portland, Oregon, United States [doi>10.1145/62266.62267]
• 18: Keith, A. Lantz, An experiment in integrated multimedia conferencing, Computer-supported cooperative work: a book of readings, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1988
• 19: K.A. Lantz, J.C. Lauwers, B. Arons, C. Binding, P. Chen, J. Donahue, T.A. Joseph, R. Koo, A. Romanow, C. Schmandt, and W. Yamamoto. Collaboration technology research at Olivetti Research Center. In Proc, Groupware Technology Workshop. IFIP Working Group 8.4, August 1989.
• 20: J.C. Lauwers, T. Joseph, K.A. Lantz, and A. Romanow. Replicated architectures for shared window systems: A critique. Technical report, Olivetti Research California. Submitted for publication.
• 21: J.C. Lauwers and K.A. Lantz. Desktop teleconferencing and existing window systems: A poor match. Technical report, Olivetti Research California, in preparation.
• 22: S. Piccardi and F. Tisato. Conference Desk: An experiment and model for application sharing. Technical report, Systems Software Laboratory, Direzione Olivetti Ricerca - Milan, January 1989.
• 23: Richard F. Rashid , George G. Robertson, Accent: A communication oriented network operating system kernel, Proceedings of the eighth ACM symposium on Operating systems principles, p.64-75, December 14-16, 1981, Pacific Grove, California, United States
• 24: Robert W. Root, Design of a multi-media vehicle for social browsing, Proceedings of the 1988 ACM conference on Computer-supported cooperative work, p.25-38, September 26-28, 1988, Portland, Oregon, United States [doi>10.1145/62266.62269]
• 25: Sunil K. Sarin , Irene Greif, Software for interactive on-line conferences, Proceedings of the second ACM-SIGOA conference on Office information systems, p.46-58, January 1984
• 26: Sunil Sarin , Irene Greif, Computer-based real-time conferencing systems, Computer, v.18 n.10, p.33-45, Oct. 1985 [doi>10.1109/MC.1985.1662711]
• 27: M. Stefik , D. G. Bobrow , G. Foster , S. Lanning , D. Tatar, WYSIWIS revised: early experiences with multiuser interfaces, ACM Transactions on Information Systems (TOIS), v.5 n.2, p.147-167, April 1987 [doi>10.1145/27636.28056]
• 28: Mark Stefik , Gregg Foster , Daniel G. Bobrow , Kenneth Kahn , Stan Lanning , Lucy Suchman, Beyond the chalkboard: computer support for collaboration and problem solving in meetings, Communications of the ACM, v.30 n.1, p.32-47, Jan. 1987 [doi>10.1145/7885.7887]
• 29: Marvin M. Theimer, Preemptable remote execution facilities for loosely-coupled distributed systems (migration, transparency, scheduling), 1986
• 30: Marvin M. Theimer , Keith A. Lantz , David R. Cheriton, Preemptable remote execution facilities for the V-system, ACM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review, v.19 n.5, p.2-12, Dec. 1-4, 1985

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.0 General
          Subjects: Data communications

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors
  H.4 INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
      H.4.3 Communications Applications
          Subjects: Computer conferencing, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors