Cooperation in massively distributed information space

Abstract

Common information spaces are often, implicitly or explicitly, viewed as something that can be accessed in toto from one (of many) location. Our studies of wastewater treatment plants show how such massivel distrubited spaces challenge many of the ways that CSCW view common information spaces. The studies fundamentally challange the idea that common information spaces are about access to everything, everywhere Participation in optimisation is introduced as an important feature of work tied to the moving around in physical space. In the CSCW literature, peripheral awareness and at a glance ovierview are mostly connected with the coordination of activities within a control room or in similar co-located circumstances. It is concluded that this focus on shoulder to shoulder has to be supplemented with studies of cooperation through massively distributed information spaces.