Tools for Synchronous Communications in Collaborative Knowledge Practices Environment (KPE)

The paper outlines the design and implementation of end-user applications for interaction, networking and community building in a shared collaboration environment. It covers features, data model, architecture and graphic user interface of the Chat tools, dedicated for synchronous communications in shared space. Two types of chat tools, which aim to support working with the common objects across contexts, objectives and organizational boundaries, are considered. They are specifically designed for facilitating idea exchanging, brainstorming and contextual communication between collaborating partners so that chat sessions can be initiated directly from the shared knowledge space or bound to an individual object that the users are jointly working on.