Sharing intellectual space

Abstract

In small numbers people can communicate more effectively by ‘sharing space’. An experimental ‘shared space’ word processor, on which two people can edit the same copy at the same time, has proved very useful, yet this sort of machine is not available commercially. In larger groups, in businesses, distributed intelligence is seen to be important, except in situations where knowledge is regarded as power. Despite this change in attitude, businesses still rely on the old methods of communication. Even new technologies, such as word processing and copiers, just aid the old methods rather than introducing new ones.