Edward S. De Guzman:
Publications
EEWWW!: Tangible Instruments for Navigating into the Human Body
Tangible interfaces have the potential to produce common artifacts to improve collaboration, ease learning for non-expert users and ease 3D navigation. We have developed two physical devices for navigating a 3D virtual model of the human body aimed at school children. Results from a user study show that a tangible interface can be useful for encouraging collaboration, improving the learnability of a navigational interface as well as for personalizing human slice data. more
Exploring the Design and Use of Peripheral Displays of Awareness Information
Peripheral displays allow users to monitor an information source while focusing on a separate primary task. In this paper, we present our work investigating what form peripheral displays of awareness information from instant messaging programs may take and the role these displays could have in existing communication practices. We describe several prototypes of tangible, aesthetic displays of awareness information. A focus group involving users of instant messaging software revealed that the awareness information component of the software (such as sounds or flashing windows) is often used to trigger communication through more heavyweight means such as telephone or face-to-face conversation. more
PresenceDisplays: Tangible Peripheral Displays for Promoting Awareness and Connectedness
Peripheral displays allow users to monitor an information source while focusing on a separate primary task. In this report, we present work investigating what form tangible peripheral displays of awareness information from instant messaging programs may take and the role these displays could have in existing communication practices by allowing the user to develop a sense of awareness and connectedness. We describe several prototypes of tangible, aesthetic displays of awareness information which were motivated by several user-centered and participatory design techniques, including an affective probe technique introduced in this report. Two of the prototypes were built and then deployed to nine users for five weeks to determine how well the user can obtain awareness information from the display and if extended use promotes a feeling of connectedness with the person mapped to the display. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the deployment suggests that awareness information contributes to a feeling of connectedness by provoking the user to think about the person mapped to the display more often. It was also found that awareness information can serve as a cue for heavyweight communications but this is not a prerequisite for developing connectedness. more
Should I Call Now? Understanding What Context is Considered When Deciding Whether to Initiate Remote Communication via Mobile Devices
Peripheral displays allow users to monitor an information source while focusing on a separate primary task. In this report, we present work investigating what form tangible peripheral displays of awareness information from instant messaging programs may take and the role these displays could have in existing communication practices by allowing the user to develop a sense of awareness and connectedness. We describe several prototypes of tangible, aesthetic displays of awareness information which were motivated by several user-centered and participatory design techniques, including an affective probe technique introduced in this report. Two of the prototypes were built and then deployed to nine users for five weeks to determine how well the user can obtain awareness information from the display and if extended use promotes a feeling of connectedness with the person mapped to the display. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the deployment suggests that awareness information contributes to a feeling of connectedness by provoking the user to think about the person mapped to the display more often. It was also found that awareness information can serve as a cue for heavyweight communications but this is not a prerequisite for developing connectedness. more