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.

The Problem with `Awareness': Introductory Remarks on `Awareness in CSCW'

“…But this is hardly a concise concept by any standard. CSCW researchers are obviously far from confident with using the term and thus often use the term in combination with different adjectives, e.g., 'general awareness' (Gaver, 1991;Bly et al, 1993, p. 29), 'collaboration awareness' (Lauwers and Lantz, 1990), 'peripheral awareness' (Gaver, 1992;Bly et al, 1993, p. 34;Benford et al, 1994), 'background awareness' (Bly et al, 1993, p. 34), 'passive awareness' (Dourish and Bellotti, 1992, p. 107;Dourish and Bly, 1992, p. 541), 'reciprocal awareness' (Fish et al, 1990;Schmidt, 1994;Robertson, 1997, pp. 19-21, 155-158), 'mutual awareness' (Benford et al, 1994;Schmidt, 1994;Rønby Pedersen and Sokoler, 1997), 'workspace awareness' (Gutwin, 1997;Gutwin and Greenberg, 1999;Gutwin and Greenberg, 2002), etc.…”

Providing Information on the Spot: Using Augmented Reality for Situational Awareness in the Security Domain

“…Awareness information therefore plays a mediating role for collaboration and creating shared understanding (Gerosa et al 2004). However, several different types of awareness can be distinguished (Schmidt 2002): general awareness (Gaver 1991), collaboration awareness (Lauwers et al 1990), peripheral awareness (Benford et al 2001;Gaver 1992), background awareness (Bly et al 1993), passive awareness (Dourish and Bellotti 1992), reciprocal awareness (Fish et al 1990), mutual awareness (Benford et al 1994), workspace awareness (Gutwin and Greenberg 2002).…”

Lost in translation: investigating the ambiguity of availability cues in an online media space

“…A multitude of studies has focused upon how collaborating individuals share information with each other in order to achieve awareness in groups and with the recent development of new communication technology such as cellular phones, instant messaging (IM) and online media spaces, this issue is more important today than ever before. CSCW researchers have, for example, focused upon general awareness (Gaver 1991, Bly et al 1993, peripheral awareness (Gaver 1992, Bly et al 1993, collaboration awareness (Lauwers et al 1990), passive awareness Belotti 1992, Dourish andBly. 1992), background awareness (Bly et al 1993), mutual awareness (Benford et al 1994, Schmidt 1994, reciprocal awareness (Fish et al 1990, Schmidt 1994, workspace awareness (Gutwin 1997, Gutwin et al 1999, Gutwin and Greenberg 2002 and workplace awareness (Handel andHerbsleb 2002, Isaacs et al 2002).…”