This paper outlines to what extent are CSCW systems useful and how to improve them with the help of social scientists. Therefore, CSCW systems are studied in a London underground control room to understand their use in a real environment.
'Distributed cognition' is discussed that explains how individuals develop a norm of working in a collaborative environment. Therefore, how essential it is to conduct empirical analysis in a real world situation.
Later the writer discusses in detail the coordinated activities of the two major roles in the control room, the Controller and the DIA. To give us an insight into how acoordinated activities and information sharing within an environment are important for the successful operation of the control room. The paper first discusses in detail the significance of the DIA's role to listen and monitor the activities of the Controller in order to determine consequent actions required on his part. Secondly, how both the roles assist in each others duties by subtle gestures, incase one of them overlooks something important. The paper then puts our focus on how both the roles heavily depend on the technology for input and to determine and perform the necessary outcome.
Finally, the paper proposes a more advance user-centric system to assist the activities of the Controller and the DIA.
Reflections
I do feel that the proposed Time-table will reduce the risk of anything overlooked by both the roles and assist in a more efficient distribution of information. However, retraction will be more slow than in the previous situation.
(by Shahbano)
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