Tools for distributed collaborative environments: a research agenda

Abstract

We argue that future computing environments will be collaboration oriented, globally distributed, and computation information rich. These environments will be accessed via multiple interface devices. As we move from a desktop-centric computing model to a network-centric model, new approaches in the way software and data are handled will need to be developed. In this article we outline the requirements for enabling the technological infrastructure, describe some first steps that we have taken toward building this infrastructure, and sketch directions for future development.