Abstract
This paper describes a shared workspace system known as the LookingGlass. The system allows pairs of geographically distributed designers to work together in real-time via a computer-based shared drawing surface, a video link and an audio link. The system integrates many of the features found in previous shared drawing surface systems and additionally provides eye-to-eye contact between the users; awareness of onea's partner's direction of gaze in relation to oneself and the worksurface; and the ability to communicate using gestures in relation to the worksurface.
These features are achieved in the LookingGlass system using a technique referred to as ‘video-overlay’ which combines a full screen video image of a remote partner with a full screen shared drawing surface. Various configurations of video-overlay have been explored and the results of these studies are presented. The results of trials into the suitability of the LookingGlass for various types of design work are also presented and described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bly, S. (1988): A use of drawing surfaces in different collaborative settings. InProceedings of the Conference on Computer-Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW' 88), Portland, Oregon: ACM Press, pp. 250–256.
Bly, S. and Minneman, S. (1990): Commune: A shared drawing surface. InProceedings of the Conference on Office Information Systems (OIS' 90) Boston: ACM Press, pp. 184–192.
Clark, S. and Scrivener S.A.R. (1992):The ROCOCO Sketchpad distributed shared drawing surface. Report 92/C/LUTCHI/0150, LUTCHI Research Centre, Loughborough University of Technology, loughborough, Leics., LE11 3TU, UK.
Farallon. (1988):Timbuktu user's guide. Farallon Computing Inc., Berkeley, California.
Garner, S.W., Scrivener, S.A.R. Clarke A.A. et al. (1991): The use of design activity for research into Computer-Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW). InProceedings of DATER' 91 Loughborough, September, pp. 84–96.
Greenberg, S. and Bohnet, R. (1991): GroupSketch: A multi-user sketchpad for geographically separated small groups. InProceedings of Graphics Interface' 91. Calgary, Alberta, June.
Ishii, H. (1990). TeamWorkStation: Towards a seamless shared space. InProceedings of the Conference on Computer-Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW' 90). Los Angeles: ACM Press, pp. 13–26.
Ishii, H. and Miyake, N. (1991): Towards an open shared workspace: Computer and video fusion approach of TeamWorkStation.Communications of the ACM, vol. 34, no. 12, pp. 37–50.
Ishii, H and Kobayashi, M. (1992): ClearBoard: A seamless medium for shared drawing and conversation with eye contact. InProceedings of the ACM/SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI' 92). Monterey: ACM Press, pp. 525–532.
Ishii, H., Kobayashi, M. and Grudin, J. (1992): Integration of inter-personal space and shared, workspace: ClearBoard design and experiments. InProceedings of the Conference on Computer Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW' 92). Toronto: ACM Press.
Keen, N. (1991):The LookingGlass distributed shared workspace. M.Sc. diss., LUTCHI Research Centre, loughborough University of Technology, Loughborough, Leics., LE11 3TU, UK.
Minneman, S. and Bly, S. (1991): Managing a trois: A study of a multi-user, drawing tool in distributed design work, InProceedings of the ACM/SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI' 91). New Orleans. ACM Press, pp. 217–224.
Scheifler, R.W. and Gettys, J. (1986): The X window system,ACM Transactions on Graphics vol. 5 no. 2, pp. 29–109.
Scrivener, S.A.R., Clarke, A.A. Connolly, J.H. et al. (1992):The ROCOCO project phase 1 report. LUTCHI Research Centre, Loughborough University of Technology. Loughborough, Leics., LE11 3TU, UK.
Smith, R.B., O'Shea, T. O'Malley, C. et al. (1989): Preliminary experiments with a distributed multi-media problem solving environment, InProceedings of the European Conference on Computer Supported Co-operative Work. London, September, pp. 19–34.
Tang J. and Leifer, L. (1988): A framework for understanding the workspace activity of design teams, InProceedings of the Conference on Computer-Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW' 88). Portland, Oregon: ACM Press, pp. 244–249.
Tang, J. and Minneman, S. (1990): VideoDraw: A video interface for collaborative drawing, InProceedings of the ACM/SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI' 90). Washington: ACM Press, pp. 313–320.
Tang, J. and Minneman, S. (1991). VideoWhiteboard: Video shadows to support remote collaboration, InProceedings of the ACM/SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI' 91). New Orleans: ACM Press, pp. 315–322.
VideoLogic. (1990):DVA4000/Macintosh User Guide, VideoLogic Limited, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, UK.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scrivener, S.A.R., Clark, S.M. & Keen, N. The LookingGlass distributed shared workspace. Comput Supported Coop Work 2, 137–157 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749012
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749012