Computer-Supported Cooperative Work Challenges

In this article, we consider the main challenges that impede us from realizing the great promise of computersupported cooperative work (CSCW). First, we discuss some of the key features that CSCW must provide in order to succeed with users. We follow this with a picture of the current state of the practice among CSCW users, and then we examine some technologies that hold promise for future application to CSCW. While considering these promising technologies, we suggest links between past CSCW research and related emerging commercial technologies, and we also identify some current research that holds great potential for future application to CSCW. We close with some speculation on the future of CSCW.