Sharing information in remote collaboration and new communication technology: A rewiew of recent work

This paper is a review of recent work dealing with communication media used in remote collaboration (a review of papers published in scientific journa ls). During the nineties, there has been an increasing number of such paper s, regarding the theoretical framework of communication and collaboration p rocesses, the impact of such media on performance and satisfaction in a gro up, or the design of communication tools (video, e.mail, computer-mediated communication). In a preliminary assessment, we put forward an analysis of remote collaboration at work based on two types of useful information : sha red information about task(s) or object(s); and shared information about te lepresence. The first Part of the paper deals with the former aspect : info rmation about task(s) or object(s). Whils video technology is the main conc ern here, helping users to access such information, other tools are also pr oposed (e.g., computer-mediated communication). In relation to this area, t his paper makes reference to such authors as Whittaker or Anderson. The mai n finding of these works is that sharing functional information is the fund amental factor for successful remote collaboration. The next part of the pa per deals with the second aspect of remote collaboration : telepresence and mutual awareness. Although seeing others is considered less important than seeing what is done, some social tasks need such information (negotiation, bargaining, medical contact with a patient). In relation to this area, thi s paper makes reference to such authors as Monk or Sellen. The links betwee n these two types of information (functional/social) are presented. The thi rd part of the paper highlights the medium of communication by which inform ation is shared, in relation to the characteristics of the tasks : the choi ce of a medium of communication must be based on an analysis of tasks and t he work situation in which this medium will be used (social or functional c haracteristics, useful information, synchronous or asynchronous communicati on, multimodality). This ergonomics perspective is not always taken into ac count in organisational decision-making. In the conclusion (part four), we look at the necessity of task analysis before going on to choose a medium t hat will be useful in a remote collaboration situation. Two areas for futur e research are suggested : remote teaching and virtual meeting rooms.