Telepresence: Integrating Shared Task and Person Spaces William A. S. Buxton Proceedings of Graphic Interface ’92, pp

What’s the frequency Bill? Telepresence is using technology to get a sense of shared presence or space among geographically separated members of a group. Telepresence is using technology to get a sense of shared presence or space among geographically separated members of a group. Most collaboration/shared space work so far focuses exclusively upon video conferencing systems and collaboration tools. Most collaboration/shared space work so far focuses exclusively upon video conferencing systems and collaboration tools. Two types of spaces Two types of spaces Person Space – sense of copresence (facial expressions, body language, etc.) Person Space – sense of copresence (facial expressions, body language, etc.) Task Space – copresence in domain of task being undertaken (shared copy of document, shared view of widget, etc.) Task Space – copresence in domain of task being undertaken (shared copy of document, shared view of widget, etc.)

Uhuh, and… what’s the point? Creating “meeting tools” is still an immature field. Creating “meeting tools” is still an immature field. Unlike, say, architecture where we know how to make specific types of environments to create certain senses of applicable uses. Unlike, say, architecture where we know how to make specific types of environments to create certain senses of applicable uses. Most shared space work has tried to create one-size- fits-all tools. Most shared space work has tried to create one-size- fits-all tools. The best approaches integrate both types of space (task and person), allow smooth transitions, and take their cue from real-life interaction. The best approaches integrate both types of space (task and person), allow smooth transitions, and take their cue from real-life interaction.

Well, got any examples about Person Space? Inability to establish eye contact Inability to establish eye contact teleprompter, reciprocal video tunnel teleprompter, reciprocal video tunnel been around for a while been around for a while Use portrait rather than landscape orientation Use portrait rather than landscape orientation shows the hands and desktop shows the hands and desktop particularly useful on small displays particularly useful on small displays When using multiple sites use video surrogates When using multiple sites use video surrogates Hydra system – small units sit at table Hydra system – small units sit at table preserves person space notion preserves person space notion Also scale can be important Also scale can be important try full size human images try full size human images

Okay, sure… what about Task Space? Usually we use the same video channel. Usually we use the same video channel. Sometimes only one person has the object being referred to – telawareness but not telepresence Sometimes only one person has the object being referred to – telawareness but not telepresence Use the Telestrator model Use the Telestrator model Or even use stereoscopic reproduction for 3D sharing Or even use stereoscopic reproduction for 3D sharing Sometimes video isn’t the right thing (i.e. coauthoring) Sometimes video isn’t the right thing (i.e. coauthoring) use networks to share applications use networks to share applications LiveBoard LiveBoard

Cool, okay, how do we integrate these things? SharedARK and VideoDraw provide good examples of what works. SharedARK and VideoDraw provide good examples of what works. Pretty easy to maintain person space while also keeping task space. Pretty easy to maintain person space while also keeping task space. SharedARK has two monitors near each other, one with task another with video, while audio link throughout. SharedARK has two monitors near each other, one with task another with video, while audio link throughout. Smooth translations are important to avoid interrupting the flow of interaction. Smooth translations are important to avoid interrupting the flow of interaction. People look at each other when planning or figuring things out, but not during task when it involves activity People look at each other when planning or figuring things out, but not during task when it involves activity

Bring it all together, Bill. Need to integrate person and task space for telepresence. Need to integrate person and task space for telepresence. The integration needs to be smooth. The integration needs to be smooth. We should model it on face-to-face meetings. We should model it on face-to-face meetings. One size of tool doesn’t fit all tasks. One size of tool doesn’t fit all tasks.

Bill Buxton EDUCATION: Bachelor of Music – Queen’s University (Ontario) 1973 M.S. CS, U. Toronto 1978 WORK: ’96-’02 Chief Scientist SGI, Inc. (from ’94-’02 its subsidiary Alias|Wavefront)’96-’02 Chief Scientist SGI, Inc. (from ’94-’02 its subsidiary Alias|Wavefront) Since – Principal of Buxton DesignSince – Principal of Buxton Design has consulted for: XEROX PARC, Commodore, Philips, Apple, Anderson Consulting, Mattell, IBM, Pac. Bell., Tektronix, Wang Assoc. Prof. Dept CS, U. TorontoAssoc. Prof. Dept CS, U. Toronto Research Scientist, Xerox PARC ’89-’94Research Scientist, Xerox PARC ’89-’94 Rank Xerox EuroPARC, ’87-’89Rank Xerox EuroPARC, ’87-’89