System for knowledge transfer in a group setting

A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system comprising:

• a plurality of participant work stations, each comprising:
• a participant work area;
• a participant input-device adapted to define participant images that are then included on the corresponding participant work area, the participant images being able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase objects, and bitmap objects;
• a participant display element adapted to display the corresponding participant work area;
• a moderator work station, comprising:
• a moderator work area;
• at least one moderator input-device adapted to define moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area and on each of plurality of participant work areas, the moderator images being able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase objects, and bitmap objects;
• a moderator display element adapted to display the moderator work area;
• wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;
• wherein the work areas comprise a scroll of panels, each panel being permitted to have a size exceeding that which can be displayed on the display elements;
• wherein the plurality of display elements are substantially located to permit a user to simultaneously view one of the display elements and to hear substantially every other user that is viewing another of the display elements;
• and
• wherein additional participant work stations can be added to the system while the system is in use.

A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

• a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included the participant work area;
• a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to:
• create data structures defining moderator images that are then included in the moderator work area, and
• to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;
• wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

• a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;
• a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to:
• create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and
• select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;
• wherein the moderator work area comprises a moderator public scroll and a moderator private scroll, and each participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private scroll;
• wherein each participant workstation displays images placed on the participant's public scroll by the moderator superimposed on images placed on the participant's public scroll by the participant;
• and
• wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

• a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;
• a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to:
• create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and
• to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;
• wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area;
• wherein each participant work station displays images placed on the shared work area superimposed on images placed on the participant public work area;
• wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area
• wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode;
• and
• wherein the workstations are located such that a first user positioned to use a workstation and a second user positioned to use a different workstation can hear each other speak.

A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

• a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;
• a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to:
• create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and
• to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of participant work areas;
• wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area;
• wherein each participant workstation displays images placed on the shared work area by the moderator superimposed on images placed in the participant public work area;
• wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;
• wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode;
• wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation;
• and
• wherein data structures defining the images are organized in notebook files comprising at least one panel and are stored as at least one object in a single panel.

A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

• a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;
• a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to:
• create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and
• to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of participant work areas;
• and
• collision-correction functionality;
• wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area;
• wherein each participant workstation displays images placed on the shared work area by the moderator superimposed on images placed on the participant public work area;
• wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private scroll, the participant public scroll comprising data structures defining images placed on the shared work area and the participant's public work area;
• wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;
• wherein a participant must decide to permit an image to be selected by the moderator input-device before it can be included on the moderator work area;
• wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode;
• wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation.

A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system comprising:

• a plurality of participant work stations, each comprising:
• at least one participant display device;
• at least one input device;
• a participant public scroll;
• and
• a participant private scroll;
• the at least one participant input device being adapted to permit the participant to create data structures on the participant public scroll and participant private scroll defining images that are displayed on the at least one participant display device;
• a moderator work station, comprising:
• at least one moderator display device;
• at least one moderator input-device;
• a moderator public scroll;
• the at least one moderator input device being adapted to create data structures on the moderator public scroll and each of the participant public scrolls defining images that are displayed on the at least one moderator display device and on each of the at least one participant display devices.