Single Display Groupware

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Date
1999-12-08Author
Bederson, Benjamin B.
Stewart, Jason
Druin, Allison
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Show full item recordAbstract
We discuss a model for supporting collaborative work between people that are
physically close to each other. We call this model Single Display Groupware
(SDG). In this paper, we describe the model, comparing it to more traditional
remote collaboration. We describe the requirements that SDG places on
computer technology, and our understanding of the benefits and costs of SDG
systems. Finally, we describe a prototype SDG system that we built and the
results of a usability test we ran with 60 elementary school children.
Through participant observation, video analysis, program instrumentation, and
an informal survey, we discovered that the SDG approach to collaboration has
strong potential. Children overwhelmingly prefer two mice to one mouse when
collaborating with other children. We identified several collaborative styles
including a dominant partner, independent simultaneous use, a mentor/mentee
relationship, and active collaboration.
(Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-99-75)