This paper presents NetICE, Networked Intelligent Collaborative Environment, which is a prototype designated to provide an immersive environment to allow people to communicate from anywhere at any time. The NetICE system consists of two components: an intelligent network and smart terminals. The intelligent network allows multiple users to be connected to the same virtual space. The smart termi...

Collaborative networks represent a fundamental paradigm in modern industrial organizations. It is not only a survival factor or a mechanism to increase agility, but also a basis to promote innovation through collaboration. Aiming at giving a general overview of the area, this paper presents a summary of its current achievements and further research challenges.

The recent trend in collaborative distributed manufacturing scheduling (CDMS) has gained significant importance extended, networked, and virtual environments due to its adaptability integration potential. In a environment, CDMS can occur within single factory or across multiple companies dynamic variable extended organization. For effective collaboration, the system must be secure, transparent,...

The rapid development of computer and Internet enables people who have common interests to build loosely coupled networked communities. Through stimulating individual’s creativity to augment community’s communicative and collaborative abilities for acquiring new ideas and knowledge is becoming highlight research and achieving more and more experts’ attentions. In this paper, we focus on explori...

In this paper we are presenting a novel approach to participant embodiment in networked collaborative virtual environments. Our embodiment approach integrates live video into 3D objects for a hybrid participant representation. We implemented our ideas in a Networked Collaborative Virtual Environment system, VLNET and investigated network and rendering issues in comparison with virtual human par...

Several forms of collaborative and networked organisations have emerged due to increased alliances, outsourcing, globalisation and improvements in distributed information systems. Interoperability demands and challenges are rising. There is a need to meet these interoperability challenges. This paper proposes a framework to assess how well a networked organisation supports interoperability. The...

In this paper we are presenting a novel approach to participant embodiment in networked collaborative virtual environments. Our embodiment approach integrates live video into 3D objects for a hybrid participant representation. We implemented our ideas in a Networked Collaborative Virtual Environment system, VLNET and investigated network and rendering issues in comparison with virtual human par...

In a knowledge-based, networked economy, students leaving university need to have attained skills in collaborative and creative project-based work and to have developed critical, reflective practices. This paper outlines how a wiki can been used as part of social constructivist pedagogical practice which aims to develop advanced ICT literacies in university students. The paper describes the imp...

This paper considers the issue of enabling effective collaborative learning in networked virtual environments. It is suggested that the increasing use of networked virtual environments for learning and teaching, plus the high level of use of group assessment practices requires us to enable effective learning and ensure that it does take place. The roles and interactions of the individual studen...