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In the collaborative creation of concept maps or process models, the aim is to achieve a common understanding of the modeled facts among the participants. However, collaboration should also be made possible across spatial boundaries. The aim is therefore to find a way to support collaborative modeling while at the same time guaranteeing that the participants in the modeling process are independent of location. In addition, the participants in the modeling process should also be given the freedom to give the modeling elements used their own semantics.
The target group of the tool to be created are people or groups of people who want to map knowledge in a collaborative, distributed context using concept maps - also in conjunction with the TCM tool - or process models.
The aim is to find an option that optimally supports the aspects of collaboration, location independence and semantic openness when creating concept maps and process models. For software tools where this is the case, there are various implementation options that need to be weighed up against each other. One option would be to implement a proprietary framework for the tool. This alternative has already been chosen in the past. There are also non-proprietary modeling tools that enable distributed, cooperative modeling, but define the semantics of the modeling elements from the outset. (cf. SAP's Gravity) The task is therefore to develop the tool for an existing platform with open programming interfaces while leaving the semantics of the modeling elements open.
For the chosen implementation option, the first priority is to enable the actual graphical modeling of concept maps or process models. The implemented tool must enable several participants to take part in the modeling process simultaneously via the Internet. The semantics of the modeling elements provided must be left open in the tool. In addition, it must be possible to use the modeling in a non-tangible context in combination with the tangible context of the TCM method. Consequently, an interface must be provided between the software to be created and the TCM tool so that participants can also use the tool to take part in modeling sessions using TCM without being directly present. The interface must enable communication with the TCM tool so that data can be sent to the tool via a model already created on the modeling table and the model can be reproduced there.
The usability of the selected implementation variant must also be taken into account. Users must perceive the implemented tool as useful for modeling in a collaborative, distributed context.
