Desktop documents such as MS Word and ODT could be called ‘detained text’ formats. A work might exist on the desktop of any number of people at the same time. However, if more than one person needs to work on that file, we have a problem. There is no way to synchronise the changes made on every copy of the file across all those desktops.
The work-around is for one person to work on the file and then email it to the next person. Hence the text is detained by the current person working on the document. All those waiting down the line must wait until the text is released to them. The further down the line they are, the longer they wait.
Detained text slows down any process where more than one person is involved – whether it be writing, processing, editing, reviewing or other such activities. Detained text slows down text production.
