A system for collaboration in project development includes a central server including a collaboration controller configured to support a virtual whiteboard and two or more remote servers located in different locations and coupled to the central server. The two or more remote servers are configured to receive user information from one or more input devices during an information gathering session, to provide the user information to the central server, to receive information from the central server and to provide the information received from the central server to the one or more input devices. The central server is further configured to prevent the virtual whiteboard from being displayed on the one or more input devices during the information gathering session.