The virtual collaboratory can be using completely different tools - web based and non web based,but it depends on internet communications.Scientists are prone to using it for thier research work.Social enterprises now almost accustomed to implementing virtual collaboratory for thier project works.Online community as you see it also a type of virtual collaboratory and when I am using ryze.net business community tools its postive effects soon became apparent to me.
The obvious question is then,if it is so powerful,why not to use such communities for knowledge sharing in more effective project collaborations and mobilisation of resources.And I was researching to explore the real possibilities of doing it.
What are the pros? Many ofcourse.You can choose your own medium of communication,web to web,web to email and web to mobile and vice versa communication is possible.This is extremely important for people to allow them using multiple platforms to communicate.Then OSS are available to use.Not to mention the effects it can cast upon on the society.Cons are it requires very extensive effort from the part of implementors to keep it running.
My knowledge portal plans are quite simple:start it humbly and then grow it as big as it requires and deserves.