The Committee Support System (Reprinted from Computer Standards and Interfaces, vol 8, pg 57-66, 1988)

The growing demand of the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) for rapid document exchange across Europe came to the development of the 'Committee Support System' (CSS). This office system and compatible applications are now available on most of the popular low-cost computers, such as PCs, minis and micros. Way back an initiative of the CEC founded the basis for developing the powerful CSS. CSS thereby has been designed to match the international standardization activities of the ISO, the CCITT and subgroups of the CEC within the area of information and communications technologies [1-3]. This approach now provides a universal office application that is especially suitable for document handling, processing and exchange throughout Europe. CSS is an upward compatible application system that puts the idea of less paper offices into life. The functionality provided to the CSS users covers the needs in each office. The greatest advantage of this system can be found in its communication capabilities. Thus, the electronic office system can be applied for local affairs as well as for document distribution [4]. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.