CoWord is a software that converts the single-user MS Word into a multi-user real-time collaborative word processor without making any change to the source code of Word.

CoWord also allows multiple geographically dispersed users to edit any objects in the same MS Word document at the anytime.

Here are some key features of "CoWord":

· CoWord allows multiple geographically dispersed users to edit any objects in the same MS Word document at the anytime (the same time or different times) over the Internet.
· CoWord converts the single-user MS Word into a multi-user real-time collaborative word processor without making any change to the source code of Word.
· CoWord retains the "look-and-feel" and functionalities of Word, so existing Word users can use CoWord without additional training.
· CoWord imposes no special collaboration style or restrictions on the user, so users have complete freedom in using CoWord to support their group as well as individual work.
· CoWord is based on over 10 years research and development efforts led by Professor Sun Chengzheng.
· CoWord was demonstrated at Microsoft (Redmond) in Feb, 2003. Prof Sun delivered a seminar on the background and underlying technology of CoWord at Microsoft Research (Redmond, Feb 10, 2003). A 83 minutes stream media record of this seminar is accessible here.
· CoWord was selected by the Demonstrations Program at the ACM CSCW Conference, Chicago, Nov. 2004.
· CoWord is powered by a generic Collaboration Engine (CoEngine), which integrates a comprehensive collection of state-of-the-art collaborative techniques and can be used to convert existing and new single-user applications into advanced collaboration tools without making any change to the original application.
· CoEngine has been used to convert MS PowerPoint into a real-time collaborative slide creation and presentation tool -- CoPowerPoint.
· CoEngine is being applied a wide range of commercial-off-the-shelf single-user applications, including office productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, OpenOffice), interactive digital media design tools (e.g. Maya, Photoshop), and computer-aided design and engineering tools (e.g. AutoCAD, Rational Rose).


Requirements:

· MS Word 2003, XP, or 2000

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

· The new version has added more collaborative editing features and collaboration-specific features.