Multimedia application to support distance learning and other social interactions in real-time

Supporting social interactions, in distance learning situations for example, with modern technology is very difficult. Generally Internet, networked PC, document handling and communication services and applications are not designed from a multiple user perspective but to support a one-person-one-device (or tool) interaction. This approach creates problems for supporting awareness of, and communication with other people while simultaneously working on documents. Such simultaneous activities have been identified as essential by CSCW and CHI studies, where users are reported to move promiscuously between media and devices, and combine applications and media intuitively, while maintaining awareness of others and their activities. In this paper, we present a scalable architecture for handling multiple media (Web, VR, video, audio, text and documents) and devices where awareness of others/activities is provided both inside each, and across all, media.