Spaces and Knowledge Nodes

Information and communication technology (ICT) tools support communication between persons in defined spaces.

• Participants; number of, type (persons, agents and avatars i.e. 'an incarnation in human form' according to Merriam Webster). See also (Christiansson et.al., 1996);
• Collaboration subject; design and knowledge transfer support such as analyses, synthesis, simulations, decisions, model annotations, reviews, planning, co-ordination, evaluation, purchase, learning;
• Form of interaction; e.g. presentation, design, brainstorm, negotiation, consultation, discussion, decisions, documentation, sketching;
• Communication content to support interaction; e.g. speech, sound, images, music, video, whisper, body language, 3D objects, control information;
• Meeting spaces and room definitions; physical, virtual, static, dynamic, mobile and combinations. (Intra personal workspaces, personal work spaces, team work spaces, linked spaces or one common space for all collaborators, spaces for personal and team annotations of models, etc.);
• Time; synchronous and asynchronous meetings, time stamped activities;
• Collaboration artifacts
  • communication channels e.g. displays, glasses, haptic devices, positioning devices (Haptics is the science of applying touch (tactile) sensation and control to interaction with computer applications. http://whatis.techtarget.com/)
  • control and access mechanisms (function and form of ICT tools for search, navigation, time browsing, annotation, information storing and access, space connection and overlap, x-ray and see through, model and application sharing and handling etc.),
  • user applications and information containers (e.g. Cad, databases, data warehouses, simulation programs, planning programs, external resources).