Study of using a multi-touch tabletop technology to facilitate collaboration, interaction, and awareness in co-located environment

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate how differently co-located users perform and interact while solving problems by using existing and newly developed interaction mechanisms of a multi-touch tabletop system on a large-size tabletop display. Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate users’ perceived situation awareness due to the system. This study conducted one experiment and introduced three newly developed interaction mechanisms: two-way rubber band, drag-and-response, and centre collection area. Two-way rubber band enables users not only to send but also to request digital objects. Drag-and-response allows users to accept or to reject digital objects sent by others; therefore, it eliminates conflicting situations and interference. Centre collection area stores, organises, and manages shared digital resources on a surface of a tabletop display, so that users have an overall picture of available resources. This paper discusses results of an experiment, research findings, and implications along with conclusions and several suggestions for future development and research.

Keywords:

• multi-touch operated tabletop technology
• two-way rubber band
• drag-and-response
• centre collection area

Funding

This research is partially supported by the International Research-Intensive Center of Excellence Program of the NTNU and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China, Taiwan [grant number NSC 103-2911-I-003-301], [grant number NSC 102-3113-P-006-019-], [grant number NSC 101-2511-S-008-012-MY3], [grant number NSC 101-2511-S-008-013-MY3], [grant number NSC 100-2511-S-006-014-MY3], [grant number NSC 100-2511-S-006-015-MY3].