The technologies used to build CoWord is based on over ten years of research. The most significant technological challenge is to maintain document consistency among multiple copies while allowing users to view and edit the document at anytime. We have solved this problem and encapsulated related technologies in a ready-to-use component called Generic Collaboration Engine (GCE).

GCE can be used to convert various single user applications into real-time collaborative applications. The power of GCE is shown in CoWord which seamlessly converts MS Word to a real-time collaborative Word without access to the source code of MS Word. GCE has also been used to covert MS PowerPoint into a real-time collaborative slide authoring and presentation system - CoPowerPoint.

GCE is currently being applied to 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). 

GCE is now available for applications developers. Build your own killer-app today with GCE. Find out more about GCE here.

Download GCE.