S31 Fact-finding Study on Wide Area CSCW

Rationale
Recent advances in network technology (e.g. LAN, FDDI, SDH, ATM) have not only significantly increased the network bitrate, but also enriched the set of network functions (e.g. bitrate reservation, time critical transport, multicast). One of the interesting results of these new generation networks is the enabling of a rich set of computer assisted collaborations, which require the integration of collaboration management with distributed computing, applications and communication. The proliferation of PCs and WSs with fast CPUs, high-quality bit-mapped displays and support for audio and video I/O, has - along with high speed networks brought continuous media into computer supported applications. From a networking point of view CSCW (Computer Supported co-operative Work) is regarded as a challenge as it combines multiparty asynchronous, synchronous and isochronous traffic. CSCW has until now been experienced within companies and closed user communities. Due to the current developments in the structuring and organising of work, there is a potential market for highly distributed, wide area CSCW supported by public telecommunications.

Objectives
The main objectives of this fact-finding study are to:

• assess the most recent CSCW experiments related to telecommunications
• outline a services composite necessary to support the interconnection of heterogeneous CSCW systems
• identify critical areas (e.g. missing standards) for the provision of telecom support to wide area CSCW
• recommend further action within EURESCOM.

Participants BT NL DT

Duration - Project start: Jun 93 - Project completion: Mar 94

Results for Full Publication

Deliverable 1 - Final Deliverable