Project Start Date: 1st March 2005
Project End Date: 29th August 2008
Original Project Proposal: CASIDE_Case_for_Support.pdf
Entry in EPSRC Current Grant Portfolio : http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/ViewGrant.aspx?Mode=Latest&Grant=EP/C005589/1
The central aim of the CASIDE project is to understand the way in which the physical placement and design of networked displays in semi-wild settings influences and facilitates coordination and community. This fundamental understanding will inform the development of suitable guidelines and methods for the design of situated displays both within and beyond the lifetime of the project. Consider the following scenario:
Jane, a computing student, leaves a lecture and is concerned that she is falling behind in her understanding of the subject. She decides to visit her tutor and sets off to his office which is some distance away. After walking a short distance along the campus walkway she approaches an e-campus display embedded within one of the walkway's concrete supports. She decides that rather than risk walking all the way to the tutor's office only to find him away at some meeting or other it would be wise to use the e-campus display in order to remotely view the message currently displayed on the tutor's office door display. The message reads "In meeting - back in 20 mins". Jane decides to scribble a quick note using the touch sensitive e-campus display informing the tutor that she will visit in 20 mins. A few minutes later she bumps into a friend who wants to go for lunch. While in the cafe Jane realises that she will miss her appointment with the tutor and decides to let the tutor know that she will pop-by in 45 minutes instead. The interactive display in the cafeteria is being used by another student so Jane uses her Bluetooth phone to link to the networked display and modify her previous message.
Our overall approach towards research in CASIDE will be based on a combination of theoretical research, collection of empirical data sets and prototyped application development. This methodology involves a tight cycle where theoretical issues and understanding developed through reflection on empirical observations is used to design deployed systems that test and explore the theory. These deployed systems then create a new context for observation of user behaviour and thus lead to fresh insights, discoveries and refinement of theoretical understanding. The proposed settings for deployment include Lancaster University campus and domestic settings such as family homes and residential care facilities. We recognise the following three key research objectives:
1. Understanding of Settings. We intend to use ethnographic and related studies in order to understand the social nature of public and semi-public spaces both before and after the introduction of situated display technology. This work will involve developing an understanding of the affordances of a given place, e.g. outside an office door, inside a communal living area etc. to help determine appropriate placement strategies for situated displays and an appreciation of what content may be relevant for display at a given place to facilitate cooperation (and sense of community) within a certain user group.
2. Exploration of Interaction and Use. Situated displays do not typically fit the traditional single user mouse/keyboard interaction style. We will seek to explore the interactions that manifest themselves (over time) in the settings studied. Much of this exploration will be guided based on our understanding of the settings and will utilise techniques found in context-aware computing (e.g. location-aware behaviour) and tangible interfaces as well as more familiar modalities such as e-mail and mobile phones.
3. Prolonged Deployment. A key element of our research methodology is the use of substantial deployed installations. The long term use of novel technologies, especially their collaborative and community effects, cannot be deeply understood through short-term experiments or 'toy' installations. Prolonged deployment enables longitudinal studies as well as being a technology demonstrator for dissemination and inspiration.
Dr Daniel Fitton: http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/~fittond/
Dr Mark Rouncefield: http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/sociology/staff/rouncefield/mrouncepp.html
Prof. Alan Dix: http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/users/dixa/
Dr Keith Cheverst: http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/staff/kc/
From the University of Melobourne:
Mr Connor Graham: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/staff/cgraham/
Dr Martin Gibbs: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/staff/marting/
From the University of Munich:
The EPSRC funded CASIDE Project (EP/C005589):Investigating Investigating Cooperative Applications in Situated Display Environments - http://www.caside.lancs.ac.uk/Mr Enrico Rukzio : http://www.medien.informatik.uni-muenchen.de/index.php?id=231&L=en