Taking advantage of collocated work
This team is exploiting the unique advantages of collocated work while at the same time collaborating with distributed members, with a high degree of two-way presence. By using arenas adapted to the needs of combination teams, the collocated members can interact as if they were a collocated team, without being forced to use systems adapted to a distributed collaboration, where each participant is forced behind a standard computer interface.
Advantage over videoconferencing equipment . While the current setup requires propriatery hardware and software in the collocated arena, no special hardware or client software is required for distributed members; any combination of a cellular phone and laptop will work. A standard web camera for use with IM applications is recommended as this adds value to the collaboration for the collocated members.