Territoriality in collaborative tabletop workspaces

Abstract

Researchers seeking alternatives to traditional desktop computers have begun exploring the potential collaborative benefits of digital tabletop displays. However, there are still many open issues related to the design of collaborative tabletop interfaces, such as whether these systems should automatically orient workspace items or enforce ownership of workspace content. Understanding the natural interaction practices that people use during tabletop collaboration with traditional media (e.g., pen and paper) can help to address these issues. Interfaces that are modeled on these practices will have the additional advantage of supporting the interaction skills people have developed over years of collaborating at traditional tables. To gain a deeper understanding of these interaction practices we conducted two observational studies of traditional tabletop collaboration in both casual and formal settings. Our results reveal that collaborators use three types of tabletop territories to help coordinate their interactions within the shared tabletop workspace: personal, group, and storage territories. Findings from a spatial analysis of collaborators' tabletop interactions reveal important properties of these tabletop territories. In order to provide a comprehensive picture of the role of tabletop territoriality in collaboration, we conclude with a synthesis of our findings and previous research findings and with several relevant design implications.

Exploring Social Interaction With a Tangible Music Interface

“…The notion of liminal space relates to the concept of territoriality, introduced by Scott et al (2004); and to previous guidelines on designing tabletop interfaces, which suggest the support of fluid transitions between different areas as they may occur during co-located activities (Scott et al, 2003). Similar to tabletop territories, tabletop liminal spaces serve to coordinate tabletop interactions (cf.…”

“…Similar to tabletop territories, tabletop liminal spaces serve to coordinate tabletop interactions (cf. Scott et al (2004)). The three types of tabletop territories (personal, group, and storage) are regions centred in the tabletop workspace, whilst liminal spaces also include the outer space between the exhibit and other exhibits, which is fundamental for group change.…”

“…Scott et al (2004) presented three tabletop territories in group collaboration: personal, group, and storage territories; Kruger et al (2004) identified intentional communication with a lack of verbal communication when orienting an object to oneself, to another person, or to the group; and Tang et al (2006) discussed implications for design in terms of supporting fluid transitions between coupling styles. There are a number of studies of tabletops in public settings focusing on social interaction in groups.…”

Wizard of Oz in Designing a Collaborative Learning Serious Game on Tabletops

“…There is still a need to investigate about tabletops potential on learning outcomes and their use in various situations [5]. Studying diverse collaborative models on tabletops shows the potentials of this system to invent new approaches as in [5]- [7].…”

TMAR: Extension of a Tabletop Interface Using Mobile Augmented Reality

“…The ability to sharing the table with multiple users allows users to access data significantly different way from desktop environments [14]. Some ways of doing this including splitting the table screen according to user number or using a spherical screen which can rotate left or right [3], [4]. However, the former is insufficient for accessibility in sharing and collaboration manner because each split screen view is still shown for one person.…”