Groupware : some issues and experiences

The goal of groupware is to assist groups in communicating, in collaborating, and in coordinating their activities. Specifically, groupware is defined as computer-based systems that support groups of people engaged in a common task or goal and that provide an interface to a shared environment. Groupware that specifically supports simultaneous activity is called real-time groupware; otherwise, it is non-real-time groupware. The most familiar example of groupware is the computer-based message system, which supports the asynchronous exchange of textual messages between groups of users. The conceptual underpinning of groupware - the merging of computer and communications technology - applies to a broad range of systems. Information sharing in the groupware context leads to unexplored problems in distributed systems and user interface design that emphasizes group interaction. The GRoup Outline Viewing Editor (GROVE), a novel group editor, is explained in some detail.