Collaborative Knowledge Management for Net-Centric Systems

Our objective is to develop computational solutions for maintaining a virtual transactive memory among remotely distributed collaborators in groups and organizations. The key challenge is to make computers recognize the particular backgrounds and expertise of individuals and to subsequently create a flow of information among individuals with similar work tasks, interests, foci and objectives. Our work will build on EWall technologies, a computational environment for the support of sense-making activities in remote collaborative settings. Our Phase I efforts will be divided into three parts: First, we will demonstrate how EWall technologies may be leveraged as socio-technical system to establish and maintain virtual transactive memory systems among remotely distributed work groups. Second, we will design the necessary software additions for EWall to create and maintain a virtual transactive memory system. Third, we will identify and describe particular applications that can benefit from EWall technologies in general and from a virtual transactive memory system in specific.