When news is more than what makes headlines

Abstract

The issue of maintaining awareness in a collaborative environment has often been addressed, and several different styles of notification systems have been developed to accomplish this maintenance. Much emphasis has been put on interface design. McCrickard et al. [7] describe notification system interfaces based on their balance of interruption to the primary task, reaction to the notification, and comprehension of information received. Should the interface always be present like Microsoft ́s sideshow? [2] Should it be transparent? [6] Are interruptions helpful or harmful? When and how should interruptions occur, and how should a user be required to respond to them? [4, 8].