2nd International ICST Conference on Collaborative Computing: Networking, Applications and Worksharing

Research Article

A Framework for Inter-referential Awareness in Collaborative Environments

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/COLCOM.2006.361859,
        author={Jeffrey W. Chastine and Ying Zhu and Jon A. Preston},
        title={A Framework for Inter-referential Awareness in Collaborative Environments},
        proceedings={2nd International ICST Conference on Collaborative Computing: Networking, Applications and Worksharing},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={COLLABORATECOM},
        year={2007},
        month={5},
        keywords={references framework ontology},
        doi={10.1109/COLCOM.2006.361859}
    }
    
  • Jeffrey W. Chastine
    Ying Zhu
    Jon A. Preston
    Year: 2007
    A Framework for Inter-referential Awareness in Collaborative Environments
    COLLABORATECOM
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.1109/COLCOM.2006.361859
Jeffrey W. Chastine1, Ying Zhu1, Jon A. Preston1
  • 1: Department of Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. USA

Abstract

For collaborative environments to be successful, a fundamental requirement is that they provide support for inter-referential awareness - or the ability for one participant to refer to a set of objects, and for that reference to be understood by others. Participants in co-located collaboration benefit from the availability of non-verbal communication, including gestures, eye gaze and body movements. However, when geographically separated, they can experience difficulty in communicating - as computer-mediated cues are often compromised. Given the heterogeneity of media and myriad of interaction techniques that exist in groupware, supporting inter-referential awareness can be difficult. We present a unified and systematic way of encapsulating the numerous factors related to this form of awareness through the creation of process-driven ontology. Our framework provides a formal method for describing inter-referential awareness, and serves as approach that interface designers can use to better comprehend the relevant factors involved. This research stems from our previous investigations in inter-referential awareness in collaborative augmented reality environments.