COOCOM New ways of using Information Technology for

Abstract. The COOCOM project investigates how information technology in the near and far future can make a better product with its functions and surroundings, and provide good information about the care and use of the product. The product is in this case a building. The acronym COOCOM stands for COOperation and COMmunication. The project particularly focuses on two stages in the life-cycle of a building: Early design and facility management. The COOCOM project is to be regarded as a pre-project that is sweeping over large areas, suggesting future directions of research. In order to make investigations into both the near and far future, the project has covered theoretical and practical questions. A number of IT programs and environments were evaluated and three compound electronic documents are designed that show off the possibilities of information technology. CSCW dynamics are investigated with the aid of joint editing tools and graphical representations of discussions. Finally future research directions are proposed