Improving site utilization planning through the use of interactive workspaces

In ongoing research into the value of Interactive Workspaces for improving team collaboration, this paper reports on the value demonstrated for different forms of interaction while teams performed site utilization planning designs. Interactive workspaces are spaces with potential for ubiquitous electronic interaction to allow for enhanced communication and capture of information. In the experiment reported, 24 groups of students with typically 4 group members were asked to perform site utilization planning for three phases of the Long and Foster Headquarters project in Chantilly, VA. The focus of the study was to identify changes in the students' interactions when using the space, and the difference when different forms of software and display interaction were introduced. The change in the team communication is based on the number of students with easy access to shared visual information. The teams were provided with either tablet PC's, one per student, or a single interactive whiteboard to sketch the schematic design of the site as they developed their plans. Students typically found the use of the interactive whiteboard to provide a more collaborative environment than using tablet PC's, but at the same time value in utilizing multiple displays with the parallel interaction using the tablets. All teams found working in the interactive workspace more enjoyable than typicalmeetings and would be interested in using the space for similar tasks in the future.