From CSCW to Web 2.0: European Developments in Collaborative Design

CSCW has always been associated with support for complex work practices within organisations and a related concern with the relationship between traditional co-located work practices and newer, computer mediated, practices. Equally importantly, it has maintained a steadfastly critical, creative and rigorous approach to the problems under its remit.

Many challenges were identified in CSCW some thirty years ago, and some of these remain problematic today. However they are being progressively transformed and this edited volume contains contributions that demonstrate how these new challenges are being dealt with in a variety of ways, reflecting the balance of rigour and creativity that has always characterised the field.

Originally presented at COOP ’08 which took place in Carry-le-Rouet, France in 2008, the contributions to this volume have been substantially extended and revised. New technologies, new domains and new methods are described for supporting design and evaluation. Taking a progressive and critical stance, the authors cover a variety of themes including inter-organisational working, non task-based environments, creativity, and the development of Web 2.0 (and even Web 3.0) applications, including new cooperative mechanisms and new classification possibilities.