Meet the new SharePoint collaborators

In MOSS 2007 we got to know these folks:

They're the faces you see when you create a new site collection based on the Collaboration Portal template (photo filename:  Newsarticleimage.jpg).  There they are, actively collaborating in their high-tech cubicle-free office.

I'd like to introduce you to the new collaborators of SharePoint 2010 (photo filename: HomepageSamplePhoto.jpg):

Since they're included by default on every site homepage, not just on the site collection homepage, we're all going to be seeing a LOT of them with the new version.  That window showing some green in the background (echoed in her shirt) hints that this is a more environmentally-friendly world... they're undoubtedly moving on to solve the next global business challenge!

 

Comments

[Julie]

Awesome observation about the "greening" of SharePoint 2010.

[Doug Cornelius]

I never liked the old image and the new one is worse. There are three people now instead of two.

If SharePoint is so great at collaborating, why are they all standing next to each other?
Are they trying to figure out how it works?
Or have they given up and are just staring over his shoulder while he edits a document?

[sadalit]

Doug, I totally hear what you're saying, but how does one represent globally distributed collaboration without resorting to hokey split-screen Brady-Bunch-esque visuals? (e.g. http://www.mikepellegrini.com/Graphics/bush_mccain_phone_call.jpg) More difficult still, how to represent them all separately editing the same document at the same time? (co-editing, new to SharePoint 2010!)

[Mike Gil]

I too am curious about what a good, based-in-reality image of collaboration should look like. Distractedly thumb-typing on mobile devices in a meeting? Sitting across a table staring at laptop screens instead of interacting with one another? Chatting over coffee, with no computers anywhere?

[sadalit]

Mike, in my post-Las-Vegas euphoria I could tell you about how SharePoint 2010 provides greatly improved mobile-device support, better social networking and profiles (so we don't have to talk to each other to get to know each other), and even brews a passable espresso, but I'm still struggling with the collaboration image. I could snap a picture of any of the three scenarios you mentioned - but how can I represent the success of getting the team in China to put their updates in a wiki or a blog instead of queueing up 100 emails for me overnight?

[Doug Cornelius]

First, I wouldn't ask a lawyer how to create image. (We're sued to wordy definitions.)

I think the mistake is going for a stock image of people working on a computer. [Hey use sharepoint 2007 and you get on friend to hang out with; Use the 2010 version and get two new friends.]

For collaboration, I'm a fan of this image: http://kmspace.blogspot.com/2008/04/wikis-and-happiness.html

[Chris McNulty]

At least our new folks are looking at the same place - in the old photo, I've often thought MOSS Man already has one eye on the door, half checked out, not really listening, etc.

[sadalit]

Chris, interesting take! Even in the best case, MOSS Man is dictating his vision to a more passive listener. In the newer photo, they're all focused on the same task (and the woman is the highest one in the room, which supposedly counts for something).

The more I think about the best image to represent the complexities of today's collaboration models, the more I think it needs to be an animation or video. Which could be baked into the new team site template, using the Silverlight web part.

I've been searching on YouTube but haven't found a good example. In my vision it would be something as elegant as (but much shorter than) "The Machine Is Us/ing Us." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE