Interaction space in technology-enhanced workplace: methods for usability studies

Mirja Lievonen

    Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

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    Abstract

    The thesis brings together Architecture, Cognitive Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction to investigate the role of space in collaboration and to inform workplace design in interaction spaces. Motivation arises from technology-enhanced collaboration that poses new issues for spatial design.
    Modal integration is a key concept to discriminate between collocated and ICT-mediated collaboration: People effortlessly locate/identify objects of deictic reference in a collocated situation. In a video-mediated situation, the triangle between the speaker, the addressee and the object of reference becomes fragmented. Therefore, it is difficult to infer the location of an object indicated by a remote participant and to establish joint attention. While shared understanding is necessary for collaboration, the challenge for workplace design is to design cognitively ergonomic interaction spaces.
    Deixis is identified in the thesis as a key concept in the investigation of human communication /collaboration /navigation, because it bridges the cognitive actor with the object and subjective experience with the physical setting. When situated, it locates modal integration in the position of an actor, and it connects participants’ perspectives on a common object. Thereby, it becomes a tool in the design of technology-enhanced work settings.
    In the framework proposed, deixis is situated in the communicative situation by defining the position of the participant through the human-environment interface (HEI), and the interpersonal connection by the human-human interface (HHI). Situated deixis renders the interaction layout in terms of spatial, social, modal and cognitive dimensions. Therefore, it guides the coordination of complementary perspectives (e.g. speaker / addressee) in the design of hybrid work settings.
    The framework was demonstrated feasible in the investigation of gestural deixis in the experimental video-mediated settings, and in the coordination of the teacher / student perspectives for video-mediated lecturing. As an outcome, a deixis-based approach and a framework for spatial design and usability evaluation is presented.
    Original languageEnglish
    QualificationPh.D.
    Awarding Institution
    • Royal Holloway, University of London
    Supervisors/Advisors
    • Rosenberg, Duska, Supervisor
    • Doerner, Ralf, Advisor, External person
    Award date1 Mar 2015
    Publication statusUnpublished - 2015

    Keywords

    • Interaction space
    • deictic reference
    • workplace design
    • human communication
    • Information and communication technology;

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