Copyright 1999, University of California

4-Aug-99

Understanding Networked Applications: A First Course

Chapter 2
by David G. Messerschmitt

Definitions
What is an application? What is a technology? What is information technology? What is the relationship between application and technology?

Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Copyright 1999, University of California

4-Aug-99

Application
Application = something that puts technology to use to the benefit of someone Technology = something that puts scientific principles to use Terms are relative (e.g. Pentium/PC) In this course, we are interested in the level at which technology meets users (people) and organizations
Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Types of applications
Individual = entertainment or productivity Social = groups of users Information management = access to or manipulation of information Educational = contribute to learning or training Organizational = aid mission or operations
Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Copyright 1999, University of California

4-Aug-99

Important ingredients
Information technology Information Users (people) A purpose or mission (application)

Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Understanding Networked Applications: A First Course

Social Applications
by David G. Messerschmitt

Copyright 1999, University of California

4-Aug-99

Social Applications
Categories of user groups Styles of social applications Illustrative social applications

Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Objectives
Identify distinctive types of user groups
In terms of impact on application needs

Identify distinctive types of social applications

In terms of applicability to different groups

Note: terminology specific to networked applications, not general society

e.g. citizenry
Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Copyright 1999, University of California

4-Aug-99

Group Characteristics
What characteristics of a group are relevant to
application design and features information technology infrastructure

Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Group Characteristics
Size Narrowness of purpose Duration Frequency and type of interaction Social relationships
communication links trust (individual and generalized) expectations and routines
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Group characteristics (cont.)

Technology accessibility Language skills

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Group classification
Note: any classification is imperfect Goal is insight into different application requirements
Individual Task group Work group Interest group Citizenry
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4-Aug-99

Categories of user groups

Individual Task group Citizenry Work group Interest group

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User groups
What are some examples of:
Task group? Work group? Interest group? Citizenry

In:
University? Company?
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Important to application style

Individual Task group Work group

Each member knows the other members

Loose-knit social organization

Interest group Citizenry

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Important for infrastructure requirements

Individual Task group

Does

Interaction does not have full attention of users

Work group Interest group Citizenry

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4-Aug-99

Task Characteristics
Communication Coordination

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Communication Applications
Immediate Deferred

Direct

Publication

Same time Same Place Different place

Different time

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Some Examples
Newsgroup Chatroom Telephony Web Board Net Meeting

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Styles of social applications

Immediate Deferred

Direct

Full attention of users required?

Publication

Other group members known?

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Styles (con t)
Immediate Deferred

Direct

Infrastructure delay requirements?

Publication

One or two-way communication?

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Styles (con t)
Immediate Deferred

Direct

Publication

In which box would you put? Remote conferencing World-wide Web Pointcast Facsimile Television broadcast Electronic and voice mail 22
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Styles (con t)
Immediate Deferred

Direct

Publication

In which box would you put? Newsgroup Calendar and scheduling Chatroom Telephony Groupware

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Some variations
Immediate Deferred

Direct

?? Messaging

Voice mail ??

Publication

?? Broadcast video ?? 24

Newsgroup ?? World-wide Web

A First Course

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Task group
Immediate Deferred

Direct What is the appropriate role for each box in a task group? Publication

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Work group
Immediate Deferred

Direct What is the appropriate role for each box in a work group? Publication

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Interest group
Immediate Deferred

Direct What is the appropriate role for each box in an interest group? Publication

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What has changed?

Immediate Deferred

Direct How does networked computing change the world (if at all) in each box? Publication

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Citizenry
Immediate Deferred

Direct What is the appropriate role for each box in the citizenry? Publication

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Coordination Applications
Resource allocation Monitoring and notification Collective decision-making

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Examples
Collaborative authoring Calendar and scheduling Awareness
Who available now? s Who did this?

Electronic voting

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What Kinds of Groups?

Resource allocation Monitoring and notification Collective decision-making

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Issues in social applications

How effective is remote collaboration relative to personal interaction? What are some advantages/disadvantages of geographic dispersal to organizations? What are the relative merits of immediate and deferred styles?

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Understanding Networked Applications: A First Course

Information management
by David G. Messerschmitt

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Copyright 1999, University of California

4-Aug-99

Summary
Information management for individual user Information management as an element of a social application

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How networked computing helps information management

Timeliness Wider access Processing Multimedia Social aspect

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How networked computing helps

Timeliness Access Processing Multimedia Social aspect

What are some specific ways these can help (or hurt) organizations? 37

Understanding Networked Applications

A First Course

Participants

Author or publisher User Indexer or organizer Librarian or teacher Recommender 38

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A First Course

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4-Aug-99

Participants
User Author or publisher Indexer or organizer Librarian or teacher Recommender Who fills these roles in an organizational context? How might these roles be affected by networked computing?
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Push vs. pull

User Pull Control over what is provided Time when it is provided

Push Intermediate cases: Notification Subscription

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Publisher

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4-Aug-99

Push vs. pull

User Pull

Push Publisher What are some examples of each in an organizational context?

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Proper roles of push and pull?

Pull: work Brainstorming Accessing documents Push: attention Notification of topic Notification of document availability Reminder of deadlines As networked computing grows, the deluge of information and communication can overwhelm the individual unless we use it wisely
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Finding useful information

Search Browse Navigate

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Others can help

Author: Hyperlink Author or third party: Index Metadata Reviews or recommendations

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Social information access

A group can collectively access information Examples:
Remote collaboration Problem solving, e.g. customer service Aid of librarian or teacher

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