DECO2005 Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication in Design Mary Lou Maher 27 August 2004

Computer-Mediated Communication Asynchronous - send information Synchronous - conversation

Asynchronous Communication –One to one or one to many –Personal messages –informal List server –Broadcast to a list Bulletin Board –Send message to a central location Web Pages

example of an client

Managing Communication in Subject of is IMPORTANT address nicknames Filters and multiple mailboxes Attachments and file management Keep old messages for reference

beyond sending text messages Broadcast information to mailing lists Attaching documents for file transfer Discussion threads and documentation File management

Listservers, newservers LISTSERV is an distribution software users subscribe/unsubscribe to the list each time a message is sent to the list server, it is forwarded to all the members of the list. sometimes, the messages sent to the list are first checked by a moderator and then forwarded to all the other members.

Bulletin Boards The major difference between a bulletin board and a list server is that the message sent to a list server is sent directly to each user’s box whereas a message sent to a bulletin board is viewed by the users when they go to a specific place on the internet. The advantage of the bulletin board is that messages do not get mixed up with all the other messages that a person receives and therefore the messages can be seen as a coherent group representing an asynchronous discussion.

Asynchronous Communication Tools: Advantages, Disadvantages direct to person, hard to maintain a discussion Listservers: broadcast direct to person, hard to control content Bulletin boards: threaded discussions, does not go to person Web pages: accessible to all, changes do not go to anyone

Synchronous Communication Chat –Talking by typing in a text window Video Conference –Talking by speaking with a video window Shared or Multi-user window – viewing slides or web pages –drawing board –applications/authoring Virtual World –3D worlds with users as avatars

Chat Talking by typing Chat, IRC, ICQ, MSN Messenger Considerations –Low bandwidth requirements –Multi threaded conversation –Typing skills are important –New registers emerge

Video Conference Provides video and audio communication “Being there” Considerations: –High bandwidth requirements –Protocols –Displacement

Video conference with shared whiteboard

Shared window Shared whiteboard –Master-slave, only one person can make changes –Multi-user Shared application –Multi-user CAD –Multi-user text editing

Virtual Worlds Example –Active Worlds Can see the location of other people Usually talk by typing

different kinds of communication implies different kinds of collaboration

Two metaphors for CMC tools: Desktop - providing desktop tools for communication, such as , video conferences, transferring CAD files, web browsers Place - providing a place for collaboration, such as virtual worlds, virtual reality, etc.

Desktop Tools Web-based tools - use internet protocols for communicating ideas and sharing design files “Design Office Automation” packages - use one software vendor for all computing needs, such as Microsoft

Places for Collaboration 3D simulations –Mimic the physical world and its functionality –Navigation occurs by moving around the 3D model Object-oriented worlds –Functionality can start with physical analogy –Extend the use and interactivity beyond the physical

3D Simulations CAVE Active Worlds VRML Advantages: Looks like the physical world Navigation is intuitive Good for viewing models that will be physical buildings Disadvantages: Difficult to communicate Functions are limited to those of physical world No inherent document management

Object-oriented virtual worlds Active Worlds VWorlds VirTools TappedIn Advantages: Identity of people and places and things Reactive objects in the world Invent new functions Disadvantages: Less intuitive Requires expertise to use all functions No inherent design support