Modeling the sharing of versions

Abstract

In this paper we have considered the development of a general model of information sharing in cooperative settings. The development of the model presented here has focused on exploiting the shared nature of a pool of objects. The set of shared objects and the relations between them form a common “space” onto which users project their action. These actions are made publicly available through the objects forming the space. Thus rather than simply represent the objects in the information space we can reason about the awareness users have of others sharing a version set.

In this paper we have also not considered the means by which the model is presented to users. The development of appropriate presentation mechanisms will directly effect how the model is used in practice. For example, how aware are other users of the each other across an application and how are effects propagated across a community of users. Developing the answer to these questions requires us to construct a series of applications that realise the model presented here and to examine the utility and usage of the model in practice. The construction of these applications represents the next stage in the development of the model presented here.