Co-browsing allows multiple people to access and control web pages simultaneously. It can be used for presentations, editing, web design, and more. Co-browsing can be set up through software or web pages designed for group sessions. Designing functional co-browsing systems is challenging due to compatibility issues and cybersecurity concerns. People can communicate during co-browsing sessions and make changes together. Websites and software are available for co-browsing, but participants should check system requirements and use reputable systems to avoid security risks.
Collaborative browsing or co-browsing is the act of simultaneously accessing and controlling web pages with one or more other people. Instead of simply supporting multiple users simultaneously doing different things without affecting each other, co-browsing allows a group of people to engage in synchronized activities, where the actions one person takes will appear on the screens of the other participants. There are several ways to set up co-browsing sessions and they can be useful for presentations, conferences, editing, web design and many other activities.
The first co-browsing required both parties to install software they could use in sessions together. As technology improved, people could browse together with the use of a web page that had scripts and other code designed for people to log in together. In some sessions, one person is the leader, essentially hiring and guiding people through a series of activities. In others, people are collaborating and can enter data, browse, and engage in other activities simultaneously.
Designing functional co-browsing systems is challenging, because different browsers and operating systems don’t always work smoothly, and a group of people working on different computers can experience incompatibilities. Cybersecurity is also generally reluctant to allow things like remote or external control, and the system needs to be developed in a way that allows people to receive external input without compromising the security systems in place on a given computer.
People can chat or talk on the phone during a co-browsing session to talk about what they’re seeing or doing. Comments can also sometimes be added in balloons on the page, allowing people to tag various areas of the page with notes. People working on an editing or web development project can pass control back and forth, allowing all parties to make changes and present them to the group for discussion. In fully concurrent working sessions, multiple people can work simultaneously as editors on the project.
There are websites that offer co-browsing schemes, and people can also install software for this purpose. We recommend that you check the system requirements before starting a session to confirm that all participants will be able to join and use a reputable system, as co-browsing can pose a security threat. Browser hijacks and other malicious code may be embedded during a session, putting people at risk of security compromises.
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