Place representations let users segment their work into meaningful contexts. Users can customize a Place representation and modify the behavior of interface objects and data to perform certain tasks. Place representations can be used to support the work of teams and organizations, to provide task automation, and to improve individual productivity.

Developers will be able to create Place representations consisting of specially tailored tools and information, bundled together to support a particular activity. For example, a developer could design a Place representation around a different organization metaphor, such as a timeline, that is useful for a well-defined task (for example, project management).

Place representations provide a context for collaboration and can suggest a collaboration model for working with others. For example, some Place representations might support live audio or video for all their visitors. Others might support asynchronous collaboration by providing a shared location for documents and annotation capabilities. Some possible types of collaboration include screen sharing and real-time editing of documents. The flexibility in how Place representations are configured and used makes the Place concept a powerful one.

To fully support collaboration, the interface for a Place representation must display the users who are there. The tangible presence of users enables serendipitous personal interaction among them.

In addition to simply displaying their visitors, Place representations must support configuration and management of their use. For example, Place representations can be designed to maintain information regarding usage costs and charges for visitors.

Place representations are also a suitable context for presenting the complex issues of security and access control. Having a real-world model for a collaboration environment will simplify these issues, and make them easier to understand and use.

Place representations not only support the traditional desktop functionality but also offer new metaphors for working on the computer. Examples of Place elements include meeting areas, voting booths, brainstorming areas, and other collaborative settings.