Global collaboration environment on GEMnet

We have developed and evaluated an environment for global collaboration bet ween knowledge workers on Global Enhanced Multifunctional Network (GEMnet). GEMnet is an experimental network developed by NTT. The environment fully utilizes and integrates InterPOD and TeamSmart to seamlessly support variou s collaboration styles used even in a single global project, including sync hronous and asynchronous, and collocated and dispersed collaboration. Inter POD is a system that enables participants in meetings to access and share m ultimedia information from various sources. TeamSmart is a hypermedia tool for supporting collaboration on document production. The evaluation reveale d that the environment built on GEMnet enables global collaboration over th e barriers of time difference and distance. Problems in using the environme nt were also analyzed.