Multiuser Collaboration with Networked Mobile Devices

This paper describes a multiuser collaboration infrastructure that enables multiple mission scientists to remotely and collaboratively interact with the visualization and planning software, using wireless networked personal digital assistants and other mobile devices. The infrastructure includes (1) human-computer interaction components to provide natural, fast, and accurate inputs, (2) a communications protocol to ensure reliable and efficient coordination of the input devices and host computers, (3) an application-independent middleware that maintains the states, sessions, and interactions of individual users of the software applications, and (4) an application programming interface to enable tight integration of applications and the middleware. The resulting technologies not only are applicable to NASA mission operations, but also useful in other situations such as design reviews, brainstorming sessions, and business meetings, as they can benefit from having the participants concurrently interact with the software applications (e.g., presentation applications and CAD design tools) to illustrate their ideas and provide inputs