[UI] Ch10 Collaboration

(Designing the User Interface, Ben Shneiderman and Catherine Plaisant, Addison-Wesley, 2004, ISBN 0-321-19786-0)

• 10.1 Introduction
• CSCW (computer-supported cooperative work): new acronym
• still debate whether it includes copperative, collaborative, and competitive work
• focus on:
• designing and evaluating new tech to suport work process
• study social exchanges, learning, games, entertainment
  
• groupware
  
• current trends lead to the suggestion that most computer-based tasks will become collaborative, just as most work environments have social aspects
• collaboration: motivating force for using computer -> direct collaboration (direct manipulation of display elements is part of larger goal)
• 10.2 Goals of Collaboration
• people collaborate 'cuz doing is so satisfying or productive
• collaboration can have purely emotionally rewarding or specific task-related goals
• analyzing:
• focused partnerships are collaborations between 2-3 people who need each other to complete a task
• lecture or demo formats have 1 person sharing info with many users
• conferences: many-to-many msg
• meeting and decision support can be done in a face-to-face meeting, with each user working at a computer and making simulaneous contributions.
  shared window + private window + large-screen projectors -> enable simultanrous shared comments that may be anonymous
• ...
  
• the potential market for innovative software tools is large, but challenging 'cuz of numerous and subtle questions
• reserach in collaborative interfaces is often more complicated than in single-user interface
• researchers must invent their own methodologies
• collaboration also facilitates awareness of a partner's gaze and body languange and enhances trust-building eye contact
• 10.5 Face-to-face Interfaces: Same Place, Same Time
• work together in the same room: use complex shared technology
• 10.5.1 electornic meeting room. control rooms, public spaces
  
• computer presentation:
  
• reduce eye contact
• turn a lively dialog into a boring monologue in a dark room
• challenges
• understand the role of technology in support info transfer
  
• recognize the appropriate role of shared contol
  
• benefits:
• ...
• group memory enables users to pause, reflect on info, and serve as a oermanent record of what occrred
• several existing shared workspace:
• Capture Lab, LiveBoard, Mimio, SMART Board, etc.
  
• interaction in public spaces with wall displays may be through personal computers, mobile devises, or special input devices.
• pros: everyone sees the same display, can work communally to produce a joint and recorded result
• cons: coordination may be complex, technology distraction, nice ideas are hard to deliver
  
• the casual nature of display:
• facilitates info sharing
• promotes awareness of what others are doing
  

• questions for consideration (p446 box10.1)