Office Information Systems

In recent years, computer scientists have recognized the office as a natural environment for the application of computing technology. At the same time, there has been a growing awareness of the need for automated tools to increase the productivity of white-collar workers. In an ideal office environment, machines would assume all the repetitive, mechanical tasks, thus freeing people to concentrate on problems that require creative thinking. The key to providing these office tools is the representation and utilization of information about the business of the office. This special issue of Computer focuses on recent office information systems research that is directed at improving the environment and productivity of office workers.