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Further reading 137

Summary
In this chapter we have looked at some core aspects of sociality, namely communication and
collaboration. We examined the main social mechanisms that people use in different settings
in order to collaborate. A number of collaborative technologies have been designed to sup-
port and extend these mechanisms. We looked at representative examples of these, high-
lighting core interaction design concerns. A particular concern is social acceptability that is
critical for the success or failure of technologies intended to be used by groups of people
working or communicating together. We also discussed how ethnographic studies and theo-
retical frameworks can play a valuable role when designing new technologies for work and
other settings.

Key points
Social aspects are the actions and interactions that people engage in at home, work,
school, and in public.
The three main kinds of social mechanism used to coordinate and facilitate social aspects
are conversation, coordination, and awareness.
Talk and the way it is managed is integral to coordinating social activities.
Many kinds of computer-mediated communication systems have been developed to en-
able people to communicate with one another when in physically different locations.
External representations, rules, conventions, verbal and non-verbal communication are
all used to coordinate activities among people.
It is important to take into account the social protocols people use in face to face collabo-
ration when designing collaborative technologies.
Keeping aware of what others are doing and letting others know what you are doing are
important aspects of collaborative working and socializing.
Ethnographic studies and conceptual frameworks play an important role in understand-
ing the social issues to be taken into account in designing collaborative systems.
Getting the right level of control between users and system is critical when designing col-
laborative systems.

Further reading
DIX, A., FINLAY, J., ABOWD, G., AND BEALE, R. (1998) BAECKER, R. M., GRUDIN, J., BUXTON, W. A. S., AND
Human-Computer Interaction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: GREENBERG, S. (eds.) (1995) Readings in Human-Computer
Prentice Hall. This textbook provides a comprehensive Interaction: Toward the Year 2000, (second edition) San
overview of groupware systems and the field of CSCW in Francisco, Ca.: Morgan Kaufmann, 1995.
Chapters 13 and 14. BAECKER, R. M. (ed.) (1993) Readings in Groupware and
ENGESTROM, Y AND MIDDLETON, D. (1996) (eds.) Cog- Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Assisting Human-
nition and Communication at Work. Cambridge: Cam- Human Collaboration, San Mateo, Ca.: Morgan Kaufmann.
bridge University Press. A good collection of classic These two collections of readings include a number of repre-
ethnographic studies that examine the relationship be- sentative papers from the field of CSCW, ranging from so-
tween different theoretical perspectives and field studies cial to system architecture issues.
of work practices. MUNRO, A.J., HOOK, K. AND BENYON, D. (eds.) (1999) Social
PREECE, J. (2000) Online Communities: Designing Usability, Navigation of Information Space. New York: Springer Ver-
Supporting Sociability. New York: John Wiley and Sons. lag. Provides a number of illuminating papers that explore
This book combines usability and sociability issues to do how people navigate information spaces in real and virtual
with designing online communities. worlds and how people interact with one another in them.