Access Grid, video conferencing, and real life simulation

A 2006 pilot study investigating patterns of interaction in Access Grid environment revealed situations in which real- life strategies and practices were mirrored in the AG environment. Following this observation, further study is underway to investigate AG environments as simulators of Face-to-face interactions. This paper describes the findings of the ongoing study. It investigates patterns of interactions among people, and the ways in which they interact with the technological environment, and use various artifacts for conveying and sharing information when collaborating over AG and other video conferencing systems. Building on the hypothesis that AG and other advanced video conferencing tools create a simulated face- to-face environment, the study investigates the emergence of spontaneous, informal collaboration alongside planned collaborative activities. The paper raises the question whether the forms of communication allow the creation of new forms of knowledge and require the development of new research practices