Catalyst development projects include new and innovative Web Tools, Learning Spaces, collaborative projects, workshops, and other support resources. Below are descriptions of our ongoing development projects and more about upcoming releases of the Web Tools.

Along with several campus partners, the Catalyst team is making it easier to manage and access online teaching tools and resources. We have engaged in a user-centered design process, working closely with UW faculty and students to understand their needs. The first elements of this project in place include enhancements to the Catalyst Web Tools and improved, "one-stop shopping" class-related channels in MyUW. Our new course and project workspace, CommonView, was released Spring 2008. Additional releases of CommonView, an online grade book (and much more) are currently in development.

Catalyst software developers have created a new Web application development framework, Solstice, that serves as the foundation for new Catalyst Web Tools. Solstice is designed to support large, complex applications and is available to the community as open source.

Catalyst Web services allow Web applications outside of Catalyst to access data collected using Catalyst tools or to manage Catalyst tools. This will make it possible to pull WebQ results into your system, to keep your groups up to date automatically, and more. All access will be available via a RESTful API. The first Web services are available now, and continued development to provide access to more data and functionality is planned. Contact us to learn more about current Web services or suggest new Web services.

Catalyst has added three new walk-up Collaboration Studios to campus Learning Spaces. There are two located on the second floor of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library and one located in the Computing Resources Center in Mary Gates Hall 131. The Collaboration Studios facilitate in-person, interactive, small group projects or meetings. Group members can collaborate through a shared desktop displayed on a large screen, visible to all group members. By using Tidebreak TeamSpot software, group members have remote control of the shared desktop through their own computers. The software allows the sharing of files and information between the shared desktop and any of the members' computers with a simple "click and drag" operation. Learn more.

Catalyst and other units within UW Technology have partnered on a pilot project to enable Catalyst Group Manager to synchronize with enterprise UW Groups services. Select participants will take part in the ongoing pilot effort.

Integration of Upcoming Operating Systems

Catalyst is committed to providing access to the most stable and advanced computing environment possible in our learning spaces. Apple and Microsoft are releasing major operating system upgrades in the next year and our team is actively testing the integration of these systems into the UW infrastructure and our services and tools.

Learning Spaces Moving to WinAuth

Catalyst Learning Spaces depend on central authentication for public workstations. UW Technology is working with several other departments on the WinAuth project to leverage an open solution to both Macintosh and Windows workstation authentication.