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Developing methods to understand discourse and workspace in distributed computer-mediated interaction

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Abstract

This paper presents ongoing research towards understanding the discourse and workspace in computer-mediated interactions. We present a series of methods developed to study non-collocated computer-mediated interactions. These methods were developed originally to study interactions involving teams composed of architecture, engineering, and construction management students as part of the AEC Global Teamwork course offered at Stanford University in collaboration with universities worldwide since 1993. The methods stress the value of using ethnographic approaches, particularly the role that both discourse and workspace have in developing the communication processes involved in the interactions. We used the AEC Global Teamwork course as a testbed and focused on issues regarding the nature of the communication act in building design projects when mediated by computers. We successfully tested these new methods and present the preliminary results.

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  1. http://www.media.mit.edu/∼ishii/CB.html

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Acknowledgments

This study was sponsored by the Project Based Learning Laboratory (PBL Lab), at Stanford, and the Obayshi Corporation sponsored research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Director of Project Based Learning Laboratory (PBL Lab), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Renate Fruchter

  2. Escuela de Arquitectura, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Humberto E. Cavallin

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  1. Renate Fruchter
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  2. Humberto E. Cavallin
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Correspondence to Renate Fruchter.

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Fruchter, R., Cavallin, H.E. Developing methods to understand discourse and workspace in distributed computer-mediated interaction. AI & Soc 20, 169–188 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-005-0014-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-005-0014-5

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