Three levels of collaboration on Internet

Electronic communication tools

Electronic communication tools send messages, files, data, or documents between people and hence facilitate the sharing of information. Examples include:

* E-mail

* Instant Messaging

* Faxing

* Voice mail

* Web publishing

Electronic conferencing tools

Electronic conferencing tools facilitate the sharing of information, but in a more interactive way. Examples include:

* Internet forums (also known as message boards or discussion boards) — a virtual discussion platform to facilitate and manage online text messages

* Chatting — a virtual discussion platform to facilitate and manage real-time text messages

* Telephony — telephones allow users to interact

* Video conferencing — networked PCs share video and audio signals

* Data conferencing — networked PCs share a common whiteboard that each user can modify

* Application sharing — users can access a shared document or application from their respective computers simultaneously in real time

* Electronic meeting systems (EMS) — a conferencing system built into a room. The special purpose room will usually contain a large video projector interlinked with numerous PCs.

Collaborative management tools

Collaborative management tools facilitate and manage group activities. Examples include:

* Electronic calendars (also called time management software) — schedule events and automatically notify and remind group members

* Project management systems — schedule, track, and chart the steps in a project as it is being completed

* Workflow systems — collaborative management of tasks and documents within a knowledge-based business process

* Knowledge management systems — collect, organize, manage, and share various forms of information

* Extranet systems (sometimes also known as 'project extranets') — collect, organize, manage and share information associated with the delivery of a project (eg: the construction of a building)

* Social software systems — organize social relations of groups

* Online spreadsheets — collaborate and share structured data and information

Collaborative software can be either web based (such as UseModWiki or Scoop), or desktop systems (such as CVS or RCS).

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