Conference 7.286::digital

    I'm not particularly familiar with anything at Digital, but you might
    check with the University of Arizona's Management Information Systems
    (MIS) department, particularly Jay Nunamaker, the dept. chairman.  They
    have been working on groupware projects for the past decade, and have
    been featured in Forbes and other publications as a good example of
    electronic brainstorming and other groupware concepts.  That's my
    master's degree alma mater, so let me know if you need any other points
    of contact.
    
    A good portion of groupware is present in such internal systems as
    VAXNotes, through which electronic conferences are managed.  Even
    though our own specific corporate policies don't allow it, a "true
    groupware system" which is oriented towards corporate problem-solving
    and brainstorming supports anonymous entries, the goal of which is to
    free participants from their inhibitions and enhance creativity.  I
    think that the U of A's systems support this.  They have an electronic
    conference room or something like that with a PC network, and I think
    they use home-grown software that supports anonymous entries.  I'm not
    sure how, if only one person in the room is typing and suddenly a new
    reply is posted how the anonymity is maintained, but I'm sure that's
    just a minor item.

    I think we have tools that can be used to get the important benefits of
    groupware.  As .1 mentions, NOTES is one of them, All-In-One is
    another, VTX is another.
    
    The essence of Groupware is to get the right people in touch with each
    other at the right time in a convenient electronic environment.  NOTES
    and All-In-One support a many-to-many communication style while VTX is
    usually one-to-many (where a central editor prepares information for a
    general audience).  Other ideas involve sharing spreadsheet models,
    presentations, white papers, etc in a shared or semi-public directory.
    
    If a customer is clear enough about the kind of benefits desired, I
    think we can propose some ways to use such tools to get those benefits. 
    Customized *Groupware* applications can come later after the benefits
    begin to be realized.
    
    re .1
    
    The desire for anonymity always bothers me.  I view it as evidence of
    the disintegration of an organization, the loss of trust.  No software
    is going to remedy this problem, but anonymity may hide it so that
    nobody addresses it.  There is always a way to divorce the ideas from
    the originator's personality if there is at least one person that can
    be trusted to be the moderator.
    
    In summary, we will have to think about 'Groupware' with a more
    specific set of objectives in mind to be effective.
    
    Regards,
    
    Dick

    re: .2
    
    The concept on anonymity is essentially to conquer the "groupthink"
    phenomenon.  I agree that its desire is indicative of a less than
    optimal organizational culture, but that's a fact of life in
    corporations and all organizations.
    
    The classic example of groupthink is the Bay of Pigs incident. 
    Kennedy's advisors met and met to plan the invasion, which obviously
    resulted in a disaster.  Interviewed separately after the situation
    fell apart, most indicated that they really didn't know why they
    supported the invasion; they really weren't in favor of it, but had
    gotten caught up in the group mentality and didn't ask the hard
    questions.  Part of this is because they were new to the White House
    and the Executive Department, and didn't feel comfortable yet asking
    the tough questions, and therefore just went along with the plan,
    talking themselves into seeing the potential for success only.
    
    Anonymity is designed to counter the bullying type of personality with
    which we are all familiar; the type of person who during meetings and
    briefings counters ideas with a loud, bellicose (sp?) "that's the most
    stupid thing I've heard!"  Not everyone has the courage to stand up to
    this type of bullying, and in these tough job-market times not everyone
    is willing to step forward over and over again to be bullied and
    ridiculed or to champion their ideas against the grain.  Through
    anonymity in a groupware setting, an otherwise reticent person might
    have the self-confidence to stand up for what he or she believes is the
    right thing to do.
    
    Remember that these situations are directly job and organization
    related; this isn't SOAPBOX where employees take stands on a wide range
    of subjects, but rather where things like product decisions, marketing
    strategies, etc. are developed.  To the best of my knowledge, even the
    job-related conferences here at Digital may discuss and analyze
    strategies, but aren't used as an active decision-making mechanism. 
    The type of groupware at the U of A is intended to actually support the
    decision-making process, not just do John Madden color analysis of the
    results.
    

    Indeed, Digital has had a one(anyone) to many presentation
    tool for about 2 years in vtx, and we've used it in many
    audio-conferenceing meetings.  There is a groupware group
    in DEC, and I forgot the contact, but as far as similar
    notes conferences, you might look into KAOU04::COWS and
    Teleswat, and from the people in there, you might find
    the groupware people.  They were at the Law Department's
    Electronic Law Meeting a while back, if I can find the
    minutes from that I'll mail you.  If you want to see the
    vtx demo, mail me.
    _bill

    There may be some part of what you want in a product called "Meetings
    that Work".  this is a custom offering from either Customer Training,
    or the Ai Tech group.
    
    It is a bunch of meeting stuff centered around software tools that
    allow you to have many distributed terminals' CRT's all see the display
    presented on the master terminal - which can of course be slides, etc.
    You can also pass the "pointer" to another remote terminal and make it
    the master.  the idea is to tie this all in with conference calls,
    present the "overheads" on people's terminals, and have distributed
    meetings.
    
    If this is what you need, send me a note at GRANMA::GTOPPING or
    Topping@DCO, or phone me at 341-2031 and I'll give you what contacts I have.
    
    
    George Topping

    I believe you would find a conversation with John Whiteside
    informative. He is located at ZKO and his DTN is list has 381-2314.
    He was, the last time I talked with him, working on the concepts
    of groupware.
    
    							Good Luck
    							Ed-
    P.S. If  playing phone tag is frustrating for you....try email
         at CLT::WHITESIDE.

    TeleSwat is a GroupWare project in our group. You can look up
    the notesfile AIAG::TELESWAT for exact details, installation kits etc...
    It allows a TeleSwat server (currently a RISC/Ultrix machine) to 
    enable a group conference of workstations (they can be a collection
    of VMS, Ultrix, RISC/Ultrix workstations as long as they all run X -
    I think they could even be other vendors machines that support X!).
    An application can be started up and the same windows show up on every
    workstation in the conference. Anybody who wants to provide input to the
    application "grabs" the writer. If nobodyelse has control of the writer
    you get it. All workstations can take turns being the input devices.

    Great stuff for teaching courses remotely, debugging applications with
    customers etc... Check it out....

    Nari

    Some of the most interesting "groupware" applications have been built
    for the PC environment -- originally.  One of the most interesting is
    the Coordinator, by Action Technologies.  This product, which runs on
    Novell LANs and has been taken up by a number of large organizations,
    is based on a thorough, if somewhat controversial, analysis of work
    flow in large organizations.  In some sense, you might regards this as
    "enhanced e-mail".  One key concept in the world of the Coordinator is
    the "commitment".  Commitments are formally tracked by the software,
    which keeps up to date on all parties with interests in certain ongoing
    projects.  There is an extensive literature on this and related
    groupware topics.
    
    John 
    
      3.
        \
     :-)-
    

Another "product" - or application in development that is like
Teleswat is called Shared-X... from the CEC in Karlsruhe, Germany... 
they're talking about merging it with Teleswat (or doing something
to eliminate duplication of effort)... 

for info, check KAMPUS::SHAREDX

Another product on PCs that supports teleconferencing is:
	GTCS from IIS Technologies in Canada... 

for info, contact IIS Technologies
	my contact is: Gary Anderson
	1-800-263-9673

	or, if you want to dial they're real number... (416)890-2773

Dave Marca in CLT knows about a product called Instructor from Clyde Digital, 
which runs on VMS terminals... that's what they (the Meetings That Work)
people used for the world-wide legal meeting.

Kathy

re Note 1399.8 by KAOFS::J_MORRIS:

> In some sense, you might regards this as "enhanced e-mail".  

        We have several "enhanced e-mail" product in the works.

        One of them is the Office Filter:

                       <<< ABBOTT::OFFICE_FILTER >>>
                -< Office Filter Prototype, from BOSE A/D >-
================================================================================
Note 33.0  OFFICE FILTER V3.1 Announcement and Kit Installation Inst  No replies
XANADU::POST                                        144 lines  25-JAN-1991 14:36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BOSE Advanced Development Group is now announcing network availability
of the OFFICE FILTER Prototype Version 3.1. Your are being sent this
letter because you have expressed an interest in this prototype to
either Geoff Bock, Jim Miller, or myself, or because you installed a previous 
version of the prototype.

OFFICE FILTER Version 3.1 has been designed to offer greatly expanded
features to support group-working applications requiring mail-based
Agent capabilities. Specifcally, OFFICE FILTER Version 3.1 offers the
following important new features:

      * Expanded rule language which allows the contents of tagged fields
	in a message to be passed as "arguments" to Then Actions, including
	Shell Commands. This is particularly useful in creating mail-based 
	Agents.

      * A new Then Action called "Reply With" which will allow filtered
	"Auto Reply" capabilties. In addition, a mail based Agent can 
	"return" the result of a request using this feature.
	
      * A Temporary File System which allows Agents to create temporary 
	files with unique names and have the filter clean them up when
	completed. 

      * Improved archiving capabilities which allow rules to be applied
	MULTIPLE folders with one filter invocation.

      * Miscellaneous Bug Fixes and Feature Enhancements suggested by
	User Feedback.

      * Updated "Getting Started" guide documenting all new features
	including installation instructions. 

If you are interested in reading a "getting started guide" before installation,
the VMS version is in 
	
	XANADU::USER$2:[POST.FILTER.V31]GETTING_STARTED_VMS.PS

while the ULTRIX version is in

	XANADU::USER$2:[POST.FILTER.V31]GETTING_STARTED_ULTRIX.PS

OFFICE FILTER requires no special privileges for installation on either VMS
or ULTRIX. Total storage used to contain all files and directories, including
PostScript documentation, is approx 8 MB for ULTRIX and less than 1.5 MB 
for VMS. No special privileges are required to install the OFFICE FILTER
on either VMS or ULTRIX. All files and directory trees are created within a 
user's login directory.

The OFFICE FILTER can be installed by accessing node XANADU at DECNET address
2.709.

OFFICE FILTER can be newly installed or upgraded on VMS 5.4 or later by 
running the following command at the DCL prompt:

      $ @XANADU::USER$2:[POST.FILTER.V31]OF_VMS_INSTALL

If you are upgrading from a previous VMS version, then the installation creates
new versions of the OFFICE FILTER files described below. You are free to
PURGE any of the previous version files.


The OFFICE FILTER can be installed or upgraded on (RISC) ULTRIX 4.1/UWS 4.1 by
running the following two commands at the csh prompt:

      % dcp xanadu::'user$2:[post.filter.v31]of_risc_install.sh' riscinstal
      % source riscinstal

OFFICE FILTER can be installed or upgraded on (VAX) ULTRIX 3.1/UWS 2.2 by 
running the following two commands at the csh prompt:

      % dcp xanadu::'user$2:[post.filter.v31]of_vaxult_install.sh' vuinstal
      % source vuinstal

If you are upgrading from a previous ULTRIX version, then the installation
overwrites the old executables and the Rule Set demo.rs described below.
It is recommended for safety that you make a copy of the previous version's 
directory tree.  ULTRIX installations requires an additional 4 MB on /usr/users
to PERFORM the installation.  

The OFFICE FILTER installation creates the following directory tree in your
sys$login: (VMS) or $HOME (ULTRIX) directory:

		VMS					ULTRIX
		---					------

    sys$login:					$HOME/
	    |					    |
	    | --- [.FILTER]			    | --- filter/
		       |				    |
		       | --- [.MSGTYPES]		    | --- msgtypes
		       | --- [.RULESETS]		    | --- rulesets
		       | --- [.LOGS]			    | --- logs
		       | --- [.EXE]			    | --- exe
		       | --- [.DOC]			    | --- doc

The "MSGTYPE" sub-directory will contain the file 'msgtype.dat'. This ASCII 
file contains the user/group customizable set of message types available to the 
OFSEND and OFEDIT commands.

The "RULESETS" sub-directory will contain all of your personal rule set files
(ASCII) used for your filtration tasks. It initially contains the rule set 
"DEMO.RS". FOR ULTRIX INSTALLATIONS, THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF DEMO.RS WILL
BE OVERWRITTEN.

The "LOGS" sub-directory will contain all the log files generated by the 
OFFILTER command. It is initially empty.

The "EXE" sub-directory contains all the OFFICE FILTER binaries, .COM, and
.UID files. It will contain the file "OFINIT.COM"(VMS) or "ofinit"(ULTRIX)
which defines the logicals/environment variables and symbols necessary for the 
OFFICE FILTER. It must be run before using any OFFICE FILTER command 
presumably in your "LOGIN.COM" file(VMS) or via "source ofinit"(ULTRIX) in
your .login file.

The "doc" sub-directory contains:

"getting_started.ps" is a brief user's guide describing OFFICE FILTER's 
			operation (in PostScript format). 

THIS DOCUMENT IS A "MUST READ" BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE OFFICE FILTER.

The OFFICE FILTER commands described in "GETTING_STARTED.PS" require no special
privileges to be run. 

Finally, there is a public notes conference set up in which OFFICE FILTER 
users and developers share their experiences and technical 
problems/information. It is located at ABBOTT::OFFICE_FILTER. It is strongly
suggested that users at least read, if not participate, in this conference.

This prototype is supported by BOSE AD. If you have ANY questions
or problems concerning installation or operation, please contact me at ANY 
time at XANADU::POST or DTN 381-0897. 

Part of our goal in releasing this prototype is to get extensive user feedback.
PLEASE either post in the ABBOTT::OFFICE_FILTER notes conference, or send 
directly to me, any suggestions or bug reports.

Mark J. Post
Principal Engineer
BOSE Advanced Development
XANADU::POST
DTN 381-0897

        The following conference discusses many groupware-related
        subjects.  It has been relatively inactive lately -- perhaps
        this is an indicator of the general level of interest in
        groupware within the company.

        Bob
        ==========
                             <<< ABBOTT::CSCW >>>
      -< Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Groupware Conference >-
================================================================================
Note 1.0                        Welcome to CSCW!                       2 replies
XANADU::FLEISCHER "without vision the people perish" 77 lines  25-MAR-1991 15:59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Computer-Supported Cooperative Work
                                     and
                                  Groupware
    ________________________________________________________________________

                         UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS PROHIBITED
    ________________________________________________________________________

    The theme of this conference will continue to build on its past and
    should include such topics as:

     o  Management support systems - collaborative by its very nature,
     o  Empirical studies of collaborative work practices,
     o  Theories and frameworks for analyzing group work,
     o  Collaboration in educational settings,
     o  Group decision support systems,
     o  Automating office functions,
     o  Multi-media conferencing,
     o  Documentation issues,
     o  User interface issues for personal workstations,
     o  Functionality and applications needed for networked workstations,
     o  Computer-based environments that support collaborative interaction:

         -  co-authorship,
         -  project management,
         -  group design activities,
         -  electronic mail

     o  Underlying technologies:

         -  data bases,
         -  structured documents and hypertext,
         -  access controls,
         -  privacy,
         -  networks and network services

     o  Practical experiences with technology for cooperative work:

         -  consequences for organizational structures and
         -  work practices

    Participants in this conference should come from such diverse
    disciplines as:

     -  computer science,
     -  organization design,
     -  cognitive science,
     -  anthropology,
     -  sociology,
     -  artificial intelligence,
     -  design theory, and the
     -  practical engineering disciplines.


    And provide an interdisciplinary point of view that includes:

     -  technological,
     -  sociological,
     -  organizational,
     -  cognitive, and
     -  task domain perspectives.

    ________________________________________________________________________

    The charter of this conference includes; wish-lists, ideas, and
    general brainstorming about worksystems for office automation
    including applications and user facilities such as:

     -  mail,
     -  directory services,
     -  desktop publishing,
     -  spreadsheets,
     -  calendar management,
     -  filing systems,
     -  etc.

    Bob Fleischer

	If you are interested, see if you can receive the PID for the next
	version of ALL-IN-1

	Heather