Realization of computer supported cooperative work environments using the object deputy model

Abstract

In conventional computer supported c ooperative work (CSCW) systems, usually only one video-based environment is shared by all the users. In this paper, we will show that multiple environments are r equired and they can be r ealized utilizing object-oriented database technology. A cooperative work environment can be r egarded a s a r oom where users work together by sharing documents and equipment through available communication facilities. In one environment, users, documents and equipment are handled as objects and these dierent types of objects have some attributes and methods in common, such as location attributes and layout methods. However, using the existing concepts of the conventional object-oriented model, such as class, complex object and collection object, it is dicult to dene one environment namely a set with dierent types of elements but having some attributes and methods in common. The object deputy model introduced by the authors can be extended t o formulate such environments. Since the object deputy model can uniformly handle object views, roles, migration and multiple inheritance, we can realize exible, dynamic and powerful environments based on objectoriented databases.