Supporting cooperative applications

Cooperative applications which have started to emerge from CSCW research place new demands on the computer technology used to support them. These demands raise a number of fundamental questions about the way in which computing systems provide application support. This paper examines a number of issues surrounding the support of cooperative applications and how they impact both CSCW and computer science research. In particular, the relationship between cooperative applications and the supporting techniques of distributed systems and database technology are investigated. Cooperative applications question many of the design assumptions embodied within these techniques, and ask far reaching questions of the technology. Traditionally, support systems have been unaware of cooperative activities and have hidden the actions of others from each user. This paper examines the implications of this choice and the need to consider alternative approaches to the provision of systems support. The paper concludes by highlighting a number of issues which need to be addressed both by computer science and CSCW reseachers.     

Conceptual tools for planning for the wireless classroom

Abstract  Wireless and mobile devices are beginning to offer stunning new technical capabilities for collaborative learning. Yet, researchers in this field must recognise the importance of complementing these technical advances with improved understanding of the patterns of classroom activity that most need support. The approach taken in the work reported in this paper has been to create conceptual tools that help thinking and talking about technology-supported collaborative learning. A particularly powerful tool is Collaborative Design Patterns, which captures common learning situations and benefits in written form. This paper uses four classroom scenarios to describe eight patterns. These patterns fall into two categories: whole-activity patterns, which suggest ways to organise one or more class periods, and smaller-grained support patterns.     

LotusNotes／Domino对RDBMS的访问技术

在分析Ｎｏｔｅｓ文档数据库和关键数据库各自特点的基础上,阐述了Ｎｏｔｅｓ访问关系数据库的必要性。给出了多种Ｎｏｔｅｓ访问ＲＤＢＭＳ的主要技术,重点介绍了如何通过ＬｏｔｕｓＳｃｒｉｐｔＤａｔａＯｂｊｅｃｔ访问ＲＤＢＭＳ,以一个Ａｃｃｅｓｓ数据库为例,实现了ｏｔｅｓ对它的查询,写入,修改。     

CSCW系统的理论与应用研究

计算机支持的协同工作（ＣＳＣＷ）作为新兴的研究领域正受到广泛的重视，本文介绍ＣＳＣＷ的发展背景、基本概念和应用领域，分析了ＣＳＣＷ系统的功能需求和特点，指出它与传统的分布式系统的联系和区别。讨论和评述了目前国内外ＣＳＣＷ系统的关键技术的研究现状，最后讨论了ＣＳＣＷ系统存在的几个问题，给出了今后的重点研究方向。     

光伏电路的PSpice仿真与实验研究

基于硅光伏电池单元的物理模型和光伏组件及光伏阵列的串并联结构,采用PSpice构建了小型硅光伏阵列的仿真模型,并利用该模型对光伏直流BUCK变换电路的开环和恒压控制闭环特性进行了仿真研究.仿真结果与实验数据对比表明,此模型能够在较高的近似程度上方便地模拟实际光伏电池的行为特性,将PSpice软件用于光伏发电系统的仿真是可行的.     

On the Relevance of Habermas‘ Theory of Communicative Action for CSCW

We examine the argument put forward by Ojelanki Nygwenyama andKalle Lyytinen that Juergen Habermas's theory of communicativeaction is relevant for the analysis and design of groupwaresystems. We suggest that CSCW champions of Habermas oftenoverlook the fact that his theory can be criticised in itsown right, and go on to outline its contestable character inan appraisal of his understanding of the ideal speech situation.We then move to Nygwenyama and Lyytinen's implementation ofHabermas's schema and argue that their categories of analysisare both arbitrarily constructed and applied. In conclusion,we question the extent to which grand, holistic, synthesisingsociological theories offer a way forward for designers andpoint to the difficulties of practically applying Nygwenyamaand Lyytinen's categories of analysis.     

Towards communityware

This paper summarizes our recent activities to support people to communicate with each other using public computer network systems. Unlike conventional teleconferencing systems, which are mainly for business meetings, we focus on informal communication in open orgnizations. So far, three different systems have been developed and actually tested.

A methodological approach for user interface development of collaborative applications: A case study

In the last few years, the production of systems which support learning and group work has been high. However, the design and development of these types of systems are difficult, mainly due to the multidisciplinarity involved. Furthermore, the Graphic User Interface (GUI) of an application is receiving greater attention, since it can be decisive in determining if the application is accepted or rejected by users. Model-based design is a widespread technique in the user interface development process. While reviewing approaches that deal with the modeling and design of user interfaces supporting collaborative tasks, we have detected that there is no proposal that links interactive and collaborative issues. We have introduced a methodological approach to solve this shortcoming. This approach is called CIAM (Collaborative Interactive Application Methodology) and it is composed of several stages in which conceptual models are created using CIAN (Collaborative Interactive Application Notation). These models start by modeling the organization in which the application will be used, as well as the tasks that must be supported. In the initial stages, the organization and the collaborative tasks are modeled using high-level specifications. In the following stages, the level of detail increases and, finally, the interaction between the individual users and the application is modeled using ConcurTaskTrees (CTT) notation. The interaction model acts as a bridge between the design and the implementation of the Graphic User Interface. In this paper we present our methodological approach and an example of applying this method for user interface design of collaborative and interactive applications.     

Dealing with the effects of context mismatch in group work

The context concept can be used with advantage in the area of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work. In many studies, several forms of context have been used without explicit association to the context concept. This paper attempts to clarify the relationship between context and group work. In particular, a framework is proposed to understand context as connected to other concepts used in group work. The framework is useful to analyze some groupware systems from the context perspective and to obtain some insight on possible improvements for users.     

Conferencing and collaborative computing

As integrated services have become available to the desktop, users have embraced new modes of interaction, such as multimedia conferencing and collaborative computing. In this paper, we provide a survey of past and present research that has influenced this application area, and describe research directions for the future.