Visualizing Common Artefacts to Support Awareness inComputer-Mediated Cooperation

  • Authors:
  • Thmoas Berlage;Markus Sohlenkamp

  • Affiliations:
  • GMD -- German National Research Center for Information Technology, Schloß Birlinghoven, 53754 Sankt Augustin, Germany, berlage@gmd.de;GMD -- German National Research Center for Information Technology, Schloß Birlinghoven, 53754 Sankt Augustin, Germany, sohlenkamp@gmd.de

  • Venue:
  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • Year:
  • 1999

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Abstract

The idea of a “common artefact” is a useful metaphor for thedesign of CSCW systems. Our ACCT model of a common artefactdescribes structural elements that provide awareness about thework of others. The ACCT model identifies actors, contents,conversations, and tools as the central components of a commonartefact, arranged on a shared background. The elements of acommon artefact provide both a background visualization of theactivity, but also permit dynamic notification of particularevents. We explore this process of notification, which iscomposed of a selection and a presentation stage. We identify thecritical factors of the process, in particular we highlighttechniques related to temporal and spatial distortion. Theframework helps to prepare design decisions of multi-user systemsmore consciously.