Collaborative software (AKA groupware) is application software that integrates work on a single project by several concurrent users at separated workstations.

In its modern form, it was pioneered by Lotus Software with the popular Lotus Notes application running in connection with a Lotus Domino server.

Software becomes more valuable when more people use it and thus Metcalfe's law applies.

For example, calendaring becomes more useful when more people are connected to the same electronic calendar and choose to keep their individual calendars up-to-date. Even a simple application such as a collaborative to do list can be important for project management.

The terms collaborative writing and peer collaboration refer to projects where written works are created by multiple people together rather than individually. Some projects are overseen by an editor or editorial team, but many grow without any top-down oversight.

In a true collaborative environment, each contributor has an equal ability to add, edit, and remove text. The writing process becomes a recursive task, where each change prompts others to make more changes. It is easier to do if the group has a specific end goal in mind, and harder if a goal is absent or vague.

ONLINE WORD PROCESSING

Writely blog entry with links

Writeboard - HSS demo page

BLOGS

A blog (or weblog) is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed with the newest at the top. Like other media, blogs often focus on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news. Some blogs function as online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Since its appearance in 1995, blogging has emerged as a popular means of communication, affecting public opinion and mass media around the world. Blogs are sometimes referred to as personal journalism.

Blogs can be hosted by dedicated blog hosting services:
http://www.blogger.com
http://www.xanga.com

or they can be run using blog software on regular web hosting services:
http://devel2.njit.edu/serendipity

Academic Blogging entry at Serendipity 35

For students in professional programs, management, and writing programs, it would be useful to examine the corporate blogging being done now

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WIKIS

The wiki software, upon which Wikipedia runs, evolved from a free software philosophy for similar collaborative applications.

The Division 35 Wiki at http://eris.njit.edu/mediawiki is built with the same software.

High schools are using wikis.

ORGANIZATION

When reading blogs, wikis and the like gets overwhelming, it's time to use an aggregator - like http://bloglines.com

The company 37Signals offers a "backpack" to bundle all their tools in one place for you   http://kronk.backpackit.com/