Shared Virtual Workspace Brick

Home > Architecture Library > Review by Architecture Type > Technology Architecture > Shared Virtual Workspace Brick

Description

Shared virtual workspaces are team-oriented collaboration tools that provide services for sharing files and supporting asynchronous and real-time collaboration activities and commentary. These applications include support for content creation, approval, and sharing; discussion boards; and offline and/or real-time interaction. Some of these applications also enable presence management, instant messaging, task management, charting and surveys.

Brick Information
Tactical (0-2 years)	Strategic (2-5 years)
Microsoft SharePoint Services Plumtree Collaboration Server Wiki (e.g. JSPWiki; Twiki; Wikipedia) Zope Plone	Microsoft SharePoint Services Plumtree Collaboration Servicer
Retirement (To be eliminated)	Containment (No new development)
	EMC Documentum eRoom IBM Lotus Quickplace Microsoft Groove Virtual Office Sitescape Enterprise Forum 7.2 WebCrossing
Baseline (Today)	Emerging (To track)
EMC Documentum eRoom IBM Lotus Quickplace Microsoft Groove Virtual Office Microsoft SharePoint Services Plumtree Collaboration Server Sitescape Enterprise Forum 7.2 WebCrossing Wiki (e.g. JSPWiki, Twiki and Wikipedia) Zope Plone 2.0.5	Externally hosted services IBM Workplace Collaboration Services

Comments

MS Exchange and shared drives can provide entry-level team workspace functionality; however, NIH’s target architecture is seeking to leverage the improved functionality, user interface, and additional features offered by mature and structured virtual workspace solutions such as those in the Tactical deployment and Strategic categories of this brick.
Wikis are an appropriate fit for developing Web-based reference knowledge bases; however, do not enable real-time collaboration as well as other technologies listed in Tactical do.
SharePoint Services and Plumtree Collaboration Server may both be accessed by the Plumtree portal front-end which will provide session management and integrate with the NIH login facility.
These products do not currently support real-time interaction (application sharing and chatting) so users may elect to use standalone Instant Messaging services or Desktop Web Conferencing capabilities (see related bricks).
Tactical products include two open source options: Zope Plone and Wiki. Note that these products may involve introducing new tools, programming languages and/or technologies that have cost implications.