If the communication/collaboration function is performed by presenting information on a shared window of the group-view display, features should be incorporated to prevent new information from obscuring old information.
Additional Information:
One approach to performing the communication/collaboration function is to allow users to create representations of ideas, problems, or tasks using an individual-view display and then present it to others using a window of the group-view display. A possible problem with this approach is the possible duplication of information as multiple users present slightly different versions of the same idea. This restricts the amount of information that can be added to the group-view display and adds potentially distracting clutter. A decluttering function is needed that prevents inputted windows from obscuring each other and eliminates older windows. If the decluttering function is performed manually, it becomes a user-system interaction task that may compete with other operator tasks. If the decluttering function is performed automatically then the users may have to expend cognitive resources to locate their input when it is automatically positioned on the group-view display and adjust to changes if the decluttering function automatically removes or repositions information that is already on the group-view display. The automatic decluttering function should use techniques such as animation to help users maintain an awareness of how the content of the group-view display has changed.