Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Database Support for Cooperative
Work
Yusuke Yokota
Kyoto University
Yahiko Kambayashi
Kyoto University
ABSTRACT
Most of CSCW applications are implemented as network applications, which support
cooperation among users in distributed network environment. Such applications have
to provide facilities of sharing and modification of resources for collaboration.
Databases are suitable for foundations of these facilities because of its characteristics:
separation of data and applications, support of distributed environment, transaction
management, and data integrity. To realize some requirements from CSCW systems,
extension of database functions are needed. We introduce a cooperative hypermedia
system VIEW Media, which is based on database technologies and behaves as a
framework for CSCW systems. The system has features of database systems and
realizes development of flexible cooperative work application.
1
Introduction
CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work) is a research area which pursues
a way of collaboration of users through computer environment. Database
technologies will support realization of robust, secure and flexible CSCW
applications.
Most of CSCW applications are implemented as network applications, which
support cooperation among users in distributed network environment. Such
applications have to provide facilities of sharing and modification of resources for
collaboration. Databases are suitable for foundations of these facilities because of
its characteristics: separation of data and applications, support of distributed
environment, transaction management, and data integrity.
Consideration of security and privacy is a important issue for CSCW applications
to support practical cooperative work. Database technologies have a capability to
introduce security mechanisms into CSCW applications. In addition to the
conventional security mechanisms which database technologies provide, CSCW
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