Consistency overhead using HLA for collaborative work

CSCW (computer supported cooperative work) has been around for many years. However, despite growing use of CSCW, general infrastructures that support it are few, and seldom provide data consistency management. A question at issue is how to easily provide different consistency policies for CSCW applications. In a modeling and simulation project at the Swedish Defense Research Agency we have evaluated technologies for developing a CSCW infrastructure. Frequently used distributed simulation architecture, the HLA, appeared as a candidate for beneficially providing CSCW services. Hence we have investigated the use of HLA for the purpose, with successful result. This paper presents some of the outcome, and the experiences from adapting an application to CSCW utilizing HLA. It presents performance experiments for evaluation of three consistency policies for CSCW using HLA, conclusions, future work and some recommendations.