Experience with the use of the COM computerized conferencing system

Abstract

The COM computerized conferencing system has been in regular use on the DECsystem-10 computer at the Stockholm University Computing Center since March 1979. This report summarizes the result of a number of studies of the effect of the system. The report also summarizes the result of some other studies of similar computerized conferencing systems. The report gives information about how much KOM (the Swedish language version of COM) is used, what it is used for, which people use it, the user opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of the system, and it compares cost with other communication media. The result shows that part of the communication in COM replaces communication previously conveyed by telephone, letters or meetings. Much of the communication in COM is however new communication. COM has changed the communication patterns and increased the communication between people at large organizational distance, especially for people younger than 40 years of age and among people who are not managers. For many of its users, COM has meant an increase of the circle of people with which they exchange experience and ideas on a daily basis, and has meant that information and viewpoints can be both disseminated to and collected from more people faster than was possible before. The Swedish language version of this report (report no C 10166) also contains as appendices full reports of those studies not presented in separate reports. Most of these appendices are not included in this English translation of the report. The English version of the report has however been updated with much new information not present in the Swedish version. Search key: