Editorial — Special Issue on Collaboration Support Systems (CSS)

Abstract

Recent and emerging advances in computer and information science and technology have realized a powerful computing and communication environment. It enables effective interactions and collaboration among groups of people and systems (and systems-of-systems) beyond traditional restrictions of time and space. The evolution in hardware (e.g., pervasive computing devices, wireless sensor networks, nano-electronics) and software (e.g., multi-agent systems, workflow and information integration, interaction models and protocols) technology, and their flexible teaming have further enabled diverse forms of collaboration approaches. It has been observed during the last few decades that numerous collaboration methodologies, tools and applications in various domains have emerged to provide better quality services, helping to solve domain-specific, highly complex problems. The development of collaboration tools and methodologies has increased the domain knowledge that can be discovered and shared by individuals, and the level and intensity of interactions and collaboration that can dramatically decrease problem complexity and increase solution quality. At the same time, inefficient interactions, task and information overloads, and ineffective collaboration are prevalent.