Context

The context of a project is really important; it’s what really sets the mood and boundaries of success. An architect designs according to the context, a high-rise building wouldn’t look comfortable in a suburb filled with “white picket fences.” As computer technicians, we have to be able to model the context according to the site in order to translate the context to a client. But do we have to fabricate the real context in order to give the client a false mood in order to go ahead with the design. Reality is reality, but is reality perceived with the amount of techniques available to us in softwares. Would it be considered deception?

My personal beliefs on the matter is not to do so, a couple of years ago while 3D modelling a project for year 12, I used ArchiCAD to model a monument. That’s the only software I had at the time, but I made sure that I did experimentation before I modelled the monument; I researched construction techniques and talked to experts in the construction field, to make sure that what I modelled was correct.

What I have come to realise is context in collaboration should be shared.
“Shared context is crucial for collaborative activities. 'Shared context' can mean many things; it can mean shared knowledge of each other's current activities, shared knowledge of others' past activities, shared artifacts and shared environment. Together, these lead to shared understandings.[1]”
It will be my advice to other collaborative groups to sit down and brainstorm shared ideas, goals and a context to work in. It will make completing tasks much easier without conflict, “you are all going to aim at this end result.”
“It is particularly important to recognise that the context within which group members collaborate is comprised of both the object of that collaboration and the way in which the object is produced. We must therefore consider as context
not just the content of individual contributions, but also their characte~ their significance with respect to the whole group and its goals. It is only by providing awareness of both aspects of group members” work that systems enable each individual to make sense of others’ activity and tailor their own work accordingly. Awareness information is always required to coordinate group activities, whatever the task domain. Although we deal largely here with collaborative text editing, other collaborative activities can benefit equally from the approach we outline.[2]”

Bottom line ‘make sure everyone is on the same page.’
[1] http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/150000/143468/p107-dourish.pdf?key1=143468&key2=7904671121&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=69843653&CFTOKEN=63298801
[2] http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/150000/143468/p107-dourish.pdf?key1=143468&key2=2539671121&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=69843653&CFTOKEN=63298801