Design TeamMate

Abstract

Traditional desktop computers are known to offer insufficient functionality to designers. They are often complemented by penbased tablet devices in order to better support key activities such as sketching and modeling. However, even such extended systems are restricted, as they insufficiently support other key activities of individual designers and design teams, such as collecting and sorting inspirational material, viewing and manipulating 3D models, brainstorming, discussing or presenting. Advanced visual interfaces, such as augmented surfaces, have been proposed as being potentially complimentary in this respect, as they can support multi-user interaction, bimanual interaction (even in 3D), and a better integration between physical and digital media. In this paper, we present Design TeamMate, a system in which individual workstations of designers are fluently integrated with an augmented tabletop and wall display. We discuss how this platform can support a wide range of individual and group design activities.We review some related research on augmented surfaces, with a focus on single user and multi-user applications which have extensively and/or formally been tested with end users.The idea of combining the naturalness and efficiency of interacting with physical media on the surface of a (horizontal) desk with the flexibility of digital media presented on a computer