Creating coherent environments for collaboration

Abstract

Drawing on studies of experimental systems and eveyday settings we epxlore the relationship between social interaction and its environment. We show how interaction is inextricably embedded within its environment and discuss the ways in which innovative systems designed to support remote collaboration madvertently fracture conduct fromn its setting, and undermine the participants abilities to produce, interpret and coordinate activities. We deiscuss the implications of these issues for the design of future systems, and, more critically, for studies of work and collaboration.