TeamSpace: Walk-up, cross-platform

collaboration (for mobile computing users)

Bruce Vincent,

Stanford University

Rich Holeton Dave FuteyHead of Residential Computing

Associate Director, Academic Computing

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Questions

How are students, technologies, and academia changing?What pressures are these changes putting on public technology spaces?How can we better support pervasive, mobile computing?How can we better support partner and small-group collaboration?

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OutlineRethinking technology spaces

Changes in student users and technologyChanges in curriculum, pedagogy, and campus life

Real-time, real-space group collaborationInteractive Workspaces project (research project in CS) then opensource product iROS/othersTeamSpace software

Pilot implementationAcademic Computing—Computer Science collaborationSpace design considerationsUser studies Sustainability and scalability

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Public technology spaces in education

Outside the classroomSpecialized spacesPurposes

Learning, teachingCreativity, productionRecreation, socializing

Future: Immersive environments, VR, simulation

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Our legacy tech spacesCreated to provide access to computingBut still used for….

Quick-hit email, Web, IM, etc.Printing, production workProductivity softwareCourse-specific softwareAlternative study spaceGroup/partner work

Workstation usage declining

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Nomads <—> digital natives89% laptops for first-year students Proliferation of wirelessProliferation and convergence of devices (phone=camera= iPod=messaging)“Digital native” multitasking, collaboration, communication, cyberculture, new ways of learning(Trickle-up) pervasive computing has arrived

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Changing curricula and pedagogies

Project-based learning, problem-based learning (PBL)Multimedia production, presentation

RequiredStudent-initiated

The new literacy, e.g. new Stanford Writing RequirementCS2c, “Intermediate Computing at Stanford” (pilot class for new media skills development i.e. audio, video, web, presentation

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Changing campus and residential life

Pervasive communication and connectivityMerging of academic, social, personal, and community-building activitiesVirtual and residence communities/ IM your roommateExtracurricular cybercommunities, digital production needs

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Specific needs for technology spaces

The same old stuff (workstations, printers, software)… and in addition…

High-end digital production

Mulitmedia presentation, performance, rehearsal

Partner and small-group collaboration

Laptops and emerging devices

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Interactive Workspaces Project

Stanford CS Dept (Winograd, Fox); http://iwork.stanford.eduCollaborate across multiple devices, OSs, applicationsiRoom: ubicomp environment + iROS meta-OSProduction classroom version in Wallenberg Hall

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iRoom / iROS

iROS ManageriROS Manager iROS Manager

Macapp

Javaapp

Event HeapServer Win

appJavaapp

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iRoom classrooms in Wallenberg Hall

http://wallenberg.stanford.edu/

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TeamSpace software

“Zero-Admin” lightweight applianceInstallation quick and easyConfiguration minimal and centralizedClear boundaries of interaction definedRecoverability from transient hardware and software failures

iROS Manager, PointRight, MultiBrowseSimple GUI

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User interfaceServer: iROS Manager Client: TeamSpace

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Departmental collaboration

Academic Computing

Computer Science DepartmentiWork research group

Wallenberg Global Learning Network

Stanford School of Engineering (grant)

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Space design considerations

What are you seeking to enable?

What user experience(s) are you creating?

What rhythms are you creating?

As you shape the space, how does the space shape you?

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Space Design Considerations

Flexibility over fixed

Convertible

Versatile

Modifiable

Cultural & social engineering

Physical vs. technology investment

[3] Monahan, Torin. 2002.

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Collaboration Design Considerations

[4] Wang, H, Blevis, E. 2004

Seating, shape, orientation=eye contact

Work surface

Same document or divide labor

Private vs. public information space

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Collaboration TechnologiesHorizontal/Vertical displays

Multiple displays

Tangible interfacesPhysical object interfaces the virtual

Integrated environmentsiRoom

[4] Wang, H, Blevis, E. 2004

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User studiesDeparture from public computingMove data & control New way to structure collaboration

Working “over the shoulder” on one unitDiscuss and work separately, reconvene

Extension of the laptopShare large displays

“See” the workspace

Public and private space

[1] Shih, C., Fox, A., Winograd, T., Szybalski, A., Crone, M. 2004.

[2] Johanson, B., Fox, A., Winograd, T. 2002.

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User studiesDesign and Results

One and two screensGroups

Randomly formed groupsAssignment: Develop presentationFind comfort level in communication and spaceVerbal communication

Pre-existing groups Class project or student organization Greater ease in using the environment

[1] Shih, C., Fox, A., Winograd, T., Szybalski, A., Crone, M. 2004

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Resources1) Shih, C., Fox, A., Winograd, T., Szybalski, A., Crone, M. “Teamspace: A Simple, Low-Cost and Self Suffcient Workspace for Small-Group Collaborative Computing.” IEEE/Learning Technology, October 2004.

lttf.ieee.org/learn_tech/issues/october2004/learn_tech_october2004.pdf

2) Johanson, B., Fox, A., Winograd, T. “The Interactive Workspaces Project: Experiences with Ubiquitous Computing Rooms.” Pervasive Computing. 2002

3) Monahan, Torin. “Flexible Space & Built Pedagogies: Emerging IT Embodiments.” Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 2002

4) Wang, H., Blevis, E. “Concepts that Support Collated Collaborative Work Inspired by the Specific Context of Industrial Designers.” Indiana University. 2004

5) Pingali, G., Sukaviriya, N. “Augmented Collaborative Spaces.” 2000.

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Support issues

Transitioning research project to real world

Does “Zero-Admin” = “Zero-Maintenance”?

No difference in supporting a cluster computerFile save/location

User understanding

Wired vs. wireless — “leaving the conversation”

Security

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Current status and scalabilityTeamSpace (Open Source)Tidebreak (www.tidebreak.com): Overface

PointRightInterface control

FileWarpDrag/drop file moving among attached devices

CrossPastePaste information between attached devices

ActionTrackArchive/track meeting files

Transient Screen Annotation

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Discussion

Your experience with changing users, technology, student culture, academic needs?

To what extent do you feel similar pressures on your public technology spaces?

Your experience with space design considerations, other ways to support collaboration, laptop users?