Support environment for CSCW research-design and implementation of a desktop computer conferencing system

CSCW (computer supported cooperative work) has been a promising research field in recent years. CSCW is based on interdisciplinary principles, and it promotes the alternation from traditional isolated work to group cooperative work. The paper introduces the basic background of CSCW. A computer conferencing system belongs to real-time CSCW application and is one of the most significant parts in the CSCW research field. The paper analyzes the functional requirement for desktop computer conferencing system. Then the author describes a full schematic software design for a desktop computer conferencing system, and explains the strategies adopted in the design. In this design, the author also advances a client-server model for multimedia synchronization. Finally, the paper presents some prospects on future work.