Borghoff, U.M., University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich, Neubiberg, Germany
Schlichter, J.H., Technical University of Munich, Germany

Computer-Supported Cooperative Work

Introduction to Distributed Applications

2000. XVII, 529 pp.
3-540-66984-1

The terms groupware and CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work) have received significant attention in computer science and related disciplines for quite some time now. This book has two main objectives: first, to outline the meaning of both terms, and second, to point out both the numerous opportunities for users of CSCW systems and the risks of applying them. The book introduces in detail an interdisciplinary application area of distributed systems, namely the computer support of individuals trying to solve a problem in cooperation with each other but not necessarily having identical work places or working times. CSCW can be viewed as a synergism between the areas of distributed systems and (multimedia) communications on the one hand and those of information science and socio-organizational theory on the other hand. Thus, the book is addressed to students of all these disciplines, as well as to users and developers of systems with group communication and cooperation as top priorities.

Keywords: Groupware, Computer-Supported Cooperative Work ( CSCW ), Distributed Applications, Distributed Systems, Synchronous and Asynchronous Cooperative Work, Hypertext, Hypermedia, Agent Technology, Synchronization, Voting

Contents: Part I. Introduction to Distributed Systems and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Fundamental Principles of Distributed Systems; Computer-Supported Cooperative Work.- Part II. Basic Concepts of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Concepts of Asynchronous and Synchronous Cooperation; Concurrency Control; Replication and Concurrency Control.- Part III. Application Classes of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Communication Systems and Shared Information Spaces; Workflow Management, Conversation and Coordination Systems; Workgroup Computing; Multi-agent Systems.- References.- List of Figures.- List of Tables.- Index.