Talking About Things in Mediated Conversations

This special issue contains four papers that focus on mediated conversations about things - things that may be physically distal but are rendered proximal through mediated technologies. One paper discusses the use of e-mail as a medium for sharing things. The remaining three papers focus on systems that support focused or 'tightly coupled' synchronous collaborative work. In addition, three commentaries offer an overview of the area and position the papers within it, presenting alternative approaches and perspectives on mediation, object-centered communication, and invite further critical reflection and debate.