Try a GroupSpace for Collaborative Computer Work
By Surajit Bose, Allan Chen, and Dave Futey
As part of its overall effort to meet the changing needs of the Stanford community, Academic Computing has expanded its GroupSpace (formerly called "TeamSpace) locations to include not only Meyer Library but also Toyon Hall and Schiff House. A GroupSpace offers a new mode of collaboration for teams who want to use computers for their work. Since faculty and course projects increasingly require collaboration in the classroom, it has become important to offer collaborative technologies outside the classroom that provide similar capabilities. A GroupSpace is just such a collaborative environment; an extension of certain classroom environments, similar to those in Wallenberg Hall.
How Does a GroupSpace Work?
Each GroupSpace enables teams of 2-6 members to interact with each other via computers, on common files and documents in unprecedented ways. Users are able to proactively "take control" of the host computer and shared community display. The technology allows them to transfer files back and forth between the shared computer and other connected users. The experience is further enriched by whiteboard-style annotation features and the ability to copy and paste text and images between machines. The TeamSpot collaboration software allows multiple users to simultaneously work on a number of documents, cut and paste from various sources, and edit a central document of interest.
What truly sets a GroupSpace apart, however, is that all of this can be done dynamically from team member to team member. At the same time, those who are not "driving" the screen can be working independently. For instance, a group writing a research paper can have one person editing graphics, another conducting a search on the Internet, and a third composing fresh text. As each person completes a task, he or she can copy/paste text or images or transfer entire files to the shared GroupSpace computer. Each person can then take turns merging all of this work into a single cohesive document.
The newly-installed TeamSpot host/client software from TideBreak makes installation and use easier and offers new features, creating a stable and reliable environment for collaborative work.
Where Are GroupSpace Locations?
Academic Computing deployed the first GroupSpace installation in the Meyer Library lobby in Winter Quarter 2005. (See also Meyer Library's Computing Facilities Enhanced in this issue.) In support of the program, Residential Computing has installed similar facilities in two residence halls, Toyon Hall and Schiff House.
Situated on the east side of campus, Toyon Hall is an all-sophomore residence housing approximately 200 students. The GroupSpace installation in Toyon is located in the Moose Room, a large mixed-purpose room that includes (in addition to the GroupSpace) a conference table and chairs, soft seating with tablet arms for laptop use, and a high-end computer workstation with multimedia editing capabilities.
Schiff House, on the west side of campus, is part of Freshman-Sophomore College, a residence for approximately 180 first- and second-year students interested in broad intellectual exploration of the liberal arts and sciences. The GroupSpace installation in Schiff is part of the computer cluster for Freshman-Sophomore College.
What Are the Possibilities?
The three GroupSpaces are located in very different environments, raising interesting questions about usage. What different possibilities of GroupSpace occur when this technology is installed in a high-traffic, public location in Meyer, a mixed-use setup in Toyon, and a dedicated technology space in Schiff? How might the user experience be enhanced in each of these different environments? In an attempt to tackle these questions, Winter Quarter 2006 has also seen the development of the GroupSpace Internship Program. This initiative is aimed at increasing the use and improving the experience of the technology and work environment in each space. More importantly, however, the program is a research effort that will incorporate user studies and ethnographic techniques. The three GroupSpace interns, all from the Learning, Design and Technology program at the School of Education, will be developing a number of new tools and materials for the program.
For More Information
For more information about GroupSpaces, see:
