DocumentCode :
1161734
Title :
A system for supporting group activities with a sensor-embedded board
Author :
Sugimoto, Masanori ; Kusunoki, Fusako ; Hashizume, Hiromichi
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Frontier Informatics, Univ. of Tokyo, Chiba
Volume :
36
Issue :
5
fYear :
2006
Firstpage :
693
Lastpage :
700
Abstract :
This correspondence describes a system called ePro for supporting face-to-face group activities. ePro connects a sensor-embedded board that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for object recognition and a computer simulation, and is currently used to discuss urban planning and environmental problems. Users collaboratively construct a town by placing pieces such as houses on the board. The computer simulation program automatically recognizes the arrangement of pieces on the board. It then shows environmental changes of the town through visualized simulation results. The goal of ePro is to initiate group discussions: The physical board supports the participation of each user by allowing them to manipulate physical objects, and the computer simulation gives users feedback on their manipulation, which triggers their further actions. A comparative user study of ePro (with and without the sensor-embedded board) was conducted. Through the study, ePro has proved its high usability and effectiveness in activating discussions in face-to-face group activities
Keywords :
digital simulation; groupware; intelligent sensors; object recognition; radiofrequency identification; town and country planning; RFID; computer simulation; ePro system; face-to-face group activity; object recognition; radio frequency identification; sensor-embedded board; urban planning; Cities and towns; Collaboration; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Environmental factors; Feedback; Object recognition; Radiofrequency identification; Urban planning; Visualization; Combining physical and virtual worlds; evaluation; face-to-face collaboration; sensing board;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part C: Applications and Reviews, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
1094-6977
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TSMCC.2005.855491
Filename :
1678044
Link To Document :
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