Abstract
An
active area of HCI research is in Computer Supported Collaborative
Work (CSCW). Although software and tools have been built that
allow multiple users to interact with an application simultaneously,
the vast majority of software is still designed to be manipulated
by a single user. To allow multiple people to view a single instance
of an application, tools such as vnc [1] or Microsoft NetMeeting
[2] can be used. These tools sample the screen several times per
second and send the screen contents to interested viewers. The
tools also provide varying facilities for the viewers to assume
control over the application, with the limitation that only one
person can control the application at at time. There are different
ways in which control can be transferred from one person to another;
I am investigating which of these ways is most effective, and
whether haptics can be used to facilitate the turn-taking process.
Background
Work
This
work builds on work done by Inkpen et. al. [3], who studied different
turn-taking protocols with children. Myers et. al. have developed
a taxonomy of floor control protocols in [4]. Mackinlay and Knott
have studied turn-taking in a distributed environment [5].
Current
Status
I
have modified the open-source vnc application to permit multiple
clients to connect to a server, with a maximum of one client able
to control the server at a time. A Logitech iFeel mouse, an optical
mouse with a vibro-tactile motor embedded inside, is used to convey
haptic sensations. The sensations indicate who is in control,
whether someone wishes to have control, and an estimate of how
many people want control. Input, such as requests for control,
is currently handled by pressing buttons on a button-bar. In the
future, I plan to input information using haptics as well, whether
using a slider, multi-stage button, or force-sensing resistor.
References
[1]
Virtual Network Computing http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/
[2] Microsoft NetMeeting http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/default.asp
[3]
Inkpen et. al., "The Effect of Turn Taking Protocols on Children's
Learning in Mouse-Driven Environments" http://www.cs.sfu.ca/~inkpen/Papers/GI97/gi_97.html
[4]
Myers et. al., "Floor Control in a Highly Collaborative Co-located
Task" http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/%7Epebbles/papers/pebblesfloorcontrol.pdf
[5]
Mackinlay and Knott, "A Study of Turn Taking in a Computer
Supported Group Task" http://citeseer.nj.nec.com/mckinlay93study.html
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