Collaboration Workflow Simplified: Reduction of Device Overhead for Integrated Design Collaboration

摘要

Design collaboration relies on cognitive tools such as analog media and digital peripheral devices, and shows the characteristics of distributed cognition. It uses external cognitive tools to encode, decode, and share information in the process of collaboration. Current collaboration systems prevent seamless information sharing because they use dispersed mixed media that is often overloaded with representations and functionality. The goal of this study is to understand the overheads in information collection and sharing using peripheral devices, and to provide designers with a supportive platform to enhance collaboration using both analog and digital media. This paper reviews available peripheral devices such as smart pens, digital cameras, and voice recorders, as well as existing collaboration supporting systems for their benefits and deficiencies in collaboration. It also presents "DiNa", a collaboration platform that is envisioned to improve productivity and reduce redundant work by integrating peripheral devices into the collaboration workflow. We demonstrate a possible workflow using this system through several scenarios where designers collaborate in performing a series of design tasks. We hope to bring attention to the importance of least collaborative effort in designing systems to support real-world collaboration.