Interface-defining a metaphor for group work

An overview of investigations on computer-supported cooperative work is presented. It is argued that the only way to achieve the next evolutionary stage of groupware, software that supports the interactive work of groups, is to understand how computers and groups fit into an organization. Linking and awareness, two coordination functions central to groupware, are discussed. The Perspective Wall, an interface for representing the large amount of information required to coordinate group work in an intuitive, perceptual framework, is described.<>