(thesis)
Organisation: CEIT at The University of Queensland
Supervisor: Mark Schulz
Title: Technology-supported activities through realtime, distributed, and collaborative interfaces
Abstract: Traditionally user interfaces have been designed for a single user using one common device type---e.g. someone on a computer visiting a website. With the internet and mobile devices now being commonplace, interfaces could take advantage of being distributed across devices and working collaboratively with others in real-time. While there have been attempts to to handle this (e.g. Google Docs), they have so far been in a limited, prescribed manner. A proposed concept is put forward to design and build a new approach for a distributed and real-time collaborative user interface focusing on the concept of having a workspace with components that the user is able to freely use in a real-time manner. It is based upon existing web browsers and devices. Parts of the UI can be distributed across separate platforms. A prototype of a workspace for education is included and user testing of the prototype shows positive experiences and results for the users.
The infrastructure for specifying, creating, and using workspaces was created. This includes the necessary creation of the related workspace components such as objects and data sources.
When a workspace is chosen, a new room is created which is an instance of that workspace.
In order to demonstrate the thesis a demonstration workspace was created with the purpose being for students to collaborate together and learn about pulse width modulation and simple colour theory. The hardware component can be seen here.