Towards a consolidated model for a collaborative courseware authoring system

Abstract In an effort to reduce the expensive resource requirements in courseware production and to allow effective management of, and communication and collaboration between authors, a model is needed to harmonize the diverse theoretical backgrounds such a process requires. To this end we look at five abstract models which where chosen for their apparent appropriateness within the general area of collaborative authoring and reuse of multimedia courseware. These models consist of a functional model of hypertext, an infrastructure model for an open collaborative authoring system, two object-oriented communication models, and a courseware production model. We attempt a consolidation of these models and ultimately make several conclusions, which are exposed during a conceptual harmonisation. The principal conclusion is that a hypermedia logical model is not by itself adequate to support collaboration and reuse. Our modeling conclusions have driven the design of a system which will be implemented and tested.     

Requirement-based approach for groupware environments design

Groupware applications have special features that, if they were taken into account from the very beginning, could reasonably improve the quality of the system. Such features concern human-computer-human interactions, i.e. a further step in the human-computer interaction field: communication, collaboration, cooperation and coordination, time, space, and awareness are issues to be considered. This paper presents a novel approach to gather requirements for groupware applications. The proposal is based on a methodology that includes the use of templates to gather the information regarding the different types of requirements. The requirements templates have been extended to include new information to give account of specific features concerning groupware applications. The information gathered is managed in a CASE tool we have developed; then general and specific diagrams are automatic or semi-automatically generated.     

The use of hypertext in the writing of group papers

Abstract The Virtual Constructing Tool (VCT) was developed at the Nijmegen School of Management in 1998. The VCT is intended to facilitate the process of writing group papers through the use of construction and communication tools and is based completely on the Internet. The VCT allows a paper to be structured by means of hyperlinking and cooperation between students. Students are allowed to divide tasks, but they are held responsible for the quality of the arguments in the paper as a whole. They are invited to spend time in dealing with validity claims and in building a valid train of thought. Producing a group paper includes four interrelated working processes: exploring the subject, exchanging information, arguing and discussing and editing. Hyperlinking offers a contribution in each of these processes which varies from associative linking of pieces of information to strengthening linear structuring. Therefore, a different perspective has been taken to that of those authors who consider hyperlinking as a tool par excellence for the nonlinear production of information.     

Integration of collaboration and interaction analysis mechanisms in a concern-based architecture for groupware systems

Collaboration and interaction analysis allows for the characterization and study of the collaborative work performed by the users of a groupware system. The results of the analyzed processes allow problems in users’ collaborative work and shortcomings in the functionalities of the groupware system to be identified. Therefore, automating collaboration and interaction analysis enables users’ work to be assessed and groupware system support and behavior to be improved. This article proposes a concern-based architecture to be used by groupware developers as a guide to the integration of analysis subsystems into groupware systems. This architecture was followed to design the COLLECE groupware system, which supports collaborative programming practices and integrates an analysis subsystem that assesses different aspects of the work carried out by the programmers and adapts the functionality of the system under specific conditions.     

群件技术在质量管理中的应用研究

本文介绍了一些典型的群件技术和一个以取得ＩＳＯ９０００质量认证为目的的质量管理方法，对群件技术和质量管理过程两者的结合作了探讨，并以两个流行的群件软件ＬｏｔｕｓＮｏｔｅｓ和ＭｉｃｒＯｓｏｆｔＮｅｔＭｅｅｔｉｎｇ为例说明了群件技术在质量管理过程的作用。     

工程机械管理考核方法及动态评价系统研究

信息化条件下的工程机械管理工作日趋繁杂,开支相对较大,对于某个具体的单位来讲,其可支配的资源特别是直接经济资源,从某种程度上来说是有限的,要受到各方面的约束。为此,应采取多种措施强化工程机械管理工作,定期对管理状况进行考核,总结有益的经验,并及时发现薄弱环节,处理好工程机械的性能、价值与管理三者之间的关系,不断从加强管理中提高整体效益。     

Resolving function-based conflicts in groupware systems

In groupware tools, the activation of a function may affect other users who might have conflicting interests. We developed technical mechanisms to support users in resolving them. Contrary to current implementations of groupware tools, these mechanisms strengthen the position of the users who are affected by the activation of said functions. Supporting the visibility of a function's activation, and providing a channel for communication or means to intervene against the function's activation are approaches which constitute a framework to implement these mechanisms. We conclude with showing implementation examples of the framework and their evaluation in the POLITeam project.     

The nature of virtual communities

The impressive development of electronic communication techniques has given rise to virtual communities. The nature of these computer-mediated communities has been the subject of much recent debate. Are they ordinary social groups in electronic form, or are they fundamentally different from traditional communities? Understanding virtual communities seems a prerequisite for the design of better communication systems. To clarify this debate, we will resort to the classical sociological distinction between small traditional communities (based on personal relations) and modern social groups (bound by looser, more impersonal links). We will argue that the discussion about virtual communities is often vitiated by a simplistic assimilation to traditional communities, whereas they may be in fact quite different and much more impersonal. Virtual communities are often bound by reference to common objects or goals, and not by personal relations. In this respect, virtual communities are just another example of a long-term evolution of modern society toward more abstract social relationships.     

‘DreamTeam’: A platform for synchronous collaborative applications

This paper presents a platform for developing, testing and executing synchronous collaborative applications in a distributed, heterogeneous environment. Even though several environments exist nowadays, specific problems are not treated satisfactorily. Especially in real network environments, problems like unstable network connections and low bandwidths have to be considered.The DreamTeam platform addresses the special needs of environments with non-optimal characteristics which can, be found in distance learning scenarios. DreamTeam comprises a development environment, a simulation environment and a runtime environment; it is based upon the concept of a fully decentralised architecture and encourages rapid prototyping.DreamTeam supports developers of shared applications through a component concept. Using components helps to divide a software project into well-defined parts. Well-documented interfaces help to reduce integration efforts and improve software quality. A selection of sample applications with DreamTeam validates our design concept.This paper is an extended version of Roth, J. and Unger, C. (1998). DreamTeam: A Platform for Synchronous Collaborative Applications. In Herrmann, Th. and Just-Hahn, K. (eds)Groupware und organisatorische Innovation (D-CSCW '98). B.G. Teubner, Stuttgart, 153–165.