Architecture to integrate automatic observation mechanisms for collaboration analysis in groupware

Abstract

The study of the effectiveness and suitability of the different facilities usually provided by groupware tools (e.g., tele-pointers, instant messaging, shared editors, etc.) has always been of particular concern to the CSCW (Computer- Supported Cooperative Work) community. Interaction and Collaboration Analysis is a research field that deals with the automatic evaluation of users interactions in order to improve collaborative work processes. These analysis processes usually follow a cycle consisting of three phases: observation, abstraction and intervention. In this context, a current challenge is to design automatic observation mechanisms so that not only can user actions be represented, stored and aggregated by a groupware system, but also so that analysts can identify weaknesses and strengths in the use of the system. In this article, we define an architectural model for the systematic development of a groupware system that incorporates mechanisms to automatically observe users interactions. This approach has been used to develop COLLECE, a groupware system that supports synchronous-distributed collaborative programming.