Collaborative Technology Page

Collaboration Technology

Groups are relying more and more on different forms of technology to organize their work. These tools vary in their sophistication and use. Groups may rely on anything from the use of a laptop computer during a meeting to take the minutes to an intranet that connects team members across continents. These technologies have profound effects on the task and relational dimensions of group work. This page organizes web-based information to help you understand more about the nature of these technologies.

**Background Readings**
Groups can use simple projection technology to view images and data. This article outlines some of the ways this can occur.	Collaborate with electronic projection
Sometimes team members are spread among different work locations. These are known as distributed teams, and they present unique leadership challenges.	Leading a distributed team
This reading is lengthy, but it is an excellent overview of how collaboration technology can work.	Good things

**Projection and Conferencing Technology**
Groups can rely on laptop computers or digital whiteboards to capture ideas as they are generated during a meeting. The team members can leave the meeting with copies of the meeting notes.	Click Here to read more about whiteboards
Telephone technology allows distributed teams to conduct meetings.	Click Here to read more about an audioconferencing tool
Some meetings require the availability of visual and auditory channels. Videoconferencing technology allows this to happen.	Click Here to read more about a videoconferencing tool
Teams may have the need to share data and information across distances.	Click Here to read more about a dataconferencing tool

**Processing and Decision-support Technology**
Consensus @Anywhere- used for brainstorming and other group discussion processes	Go Here and work with the Consensus@Anywhere on-line demonstration
Option-finder- permits a group to poll members on different issues	Go Here to read more about how Option-Finder works
Facilitate.com- an internet/intranet based tool that allows for brainstorming and other discussion processes	Go Here to experiment with this technology
Group Systems- sophisticated system for managing group brainstorming and decision-making.	Go Here and take the tour of this software product

**Research and Practices - Two Sites to Browse**
Palo Alto Research Center @ Xerox- conducts research on documents and human factors associated with the use of technology. This is some interesting and highly technical work.
Center for Management of Information at the University of Arizona- this institute conducts research and houses facilities for the use of Group Systems software and other types of collaboration technology

**Assignments**