Expanding the Concept of Semiformal Collaborative Systems through Mobile Technologies

In this paper, we propose the necessity to expand the concept of semiformal systems in collaborative environments. We have through extensive empirical work identified a number of salient dimensions that points towards need of broaden the space of possible actions for the users. The complexity of collaborative processes and the trend of increased use of mobile technologies have been concretized in a collaborative learning system, the MOVE system. The implication of interconnecting stationary and mobile devices in MOVE has provided a technological support for critical transitions between participants in collaborative activities. Author