Eight collaboratory summaries

Abstract

The following eight short descriptions tell us about the wide diversity and uses of a collaboratory. With the advent of the World Wide Web, available fast networks, and appropriate software and hardware, long-distance associations between people, projects, and laboratories are becoming commonplace. The way we communicate, interact, work, and live is being changed by this rapidly evolving technology. The first five descriptions describe ongoing collaboratories. The other three deal with the infrastructure needed to support collaboratories. Many other projects are active around the world, and the number will surely increase as collaboratories become a useful and easy way to conduct business.