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From: xanthian@saturn.ads.com (Metafont Consultant Account)
Newsgroups: comp.groupware
Subject: interesting groupware reference
Message-ID: <10211@zodiac.ADS.COM>
Date: 29 Dec 89 05:39:39 GMT
Sender: news@zodiac.ADS.COM
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mt. View, CA (415) 960-7300
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The science fiction novel "David's Sling" (author's last name Stieger
or Steiger; I lent out my copy) contains a prominent discussion of a
very desirable piece of groupware, a mechanism for achieving consensus
of a large group by considering in an orderly manner all pertinent
points of view with machine assistance.

One of the sidelights resulting from this groupware example is that it
shows the need for a "minimalist" definition of exactly what
constitutes "groupware".  In my own opinion, while telecommunications
and live video may be "nice to have", much more of interest to me
would be starting with groupware assistance for a meeting around a
common table.  The organization and recall of concepts, arguments, and
alternatives for a group considering a complex question, or one
reconsidered after the lapse of a considerable amount of time, is a
task set amenable to machine assistance, and should preferable be
solved before the "bells and whistles" are added to the program of
work.

Discussion?

xanthian@well.sf.ca.us
Kent, the (bionic) man from xanth, now available
as a build-a-xanthian kit at better toy stores.