Application of Interactive Surfaces to Support Computer Mediated Collaborative Design Environment

This paper explores drawing as a design medium for conceptualising ideas within the built environment professionals and its application through computer mediated environments and tangible interfaces in particular. Developments in human-computer interactions' technologies allow the integration of physical and digital realms. Furthermore, advances in multi-touch displays promote the hap tic experience, which is substantial for externalising and communicating visual ideas among designers. As a result, an interactive surface is tested in two different studies with a multidisciplinary group of built environment professionals. The aim of the paper is to compare two different design applications, a commercial available one and a tailor-made one, to further analyse the effect of such an environment on the participants' perceptual, conceptual and collaborative actions and, eventually, to propose further research on augmented design platforms.