Changing skills in changing environments: skills needed in virtual construction teams

This book focuses on virtual reality. In the context of design, virtual reality is an emerging technology that not only allows designers and other stakeholders to gain a three-dimensional appreciation of the artifact being designed, it also has the potential to significantly alter the manner in which design occurs. Internet-based technologies have made it possible for designers in different locations to collaborate in developing and refining their designs. Virtual reality has contributed to this environment (Maher, 2005) by allowing designers in geographically-dispersed locations to interact with each other. Software applications have been developed to assist and facilitate these collaborative activities (including Shyamsundar and Gadh (2001) and Lau, Mak and Lu (2003)) but comparatively speaking, little research has been conducted into the people-related issues of collaboration via the Internet. Some of these are the issues addressed in this chapter.