This covers both the physical and virtual environments of each individual and the group. This group looked at a number of factors which effect the design of awareness mechanisms. These include people and their roles, the environment, projects, groupings, boundaries, tasks, awareness resources, self-presentation, and audience. The diagram in Figure 1 summarizes these factors. Each of the seven dimensions is on a continuum.
Abstraction refers to the level of abstraction in the display of information.
The temporal dimension refers to the time factor in awareness information. A snapshot or a single data point versus a summary over time, space or other attributes is captured in the aggregation dimension. This dimension also covers interpreted versus raw information. The locus of control of information ranges from the perceiver to the receiver. Either party could have full control over all information or control of some.