Use of information visualization techniques in a collaborative context

Collaborative visualization is a study field that emerged by combining computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and information visualization. The main goal is to analyze how visualization techniques can be used to support collaboration. One of the key aspects for the effective use of visual representations as a facilitator for collaboration is the analysis of how this feature influences collaborative work The aim of this paper is to present a study which considered the use of visualization techniques for supporting the collaboration process from a 3C collaboration model perspective. More specifically, we analyzed the influence of techniques from the user´s perspective. A case study was conducted to investigate the relationship of visualization techniques with activities performed by users in a software development scenario. The results of the case study show that visualization techniques influence collaborative tasks.