Results of observational studies of spatial workspace collaboration

Most studies on groupware have focused on desktop‐type collaboration in two‐dimensional (2‐D) space. However, to apply groupware to manufacturing or more general and free communication, groupware must be developed that supports expressions of 3‐D shapes and motions. Collaboration in the 3‐D environment will be called “spatial workspace collaboration” to distinguish it from the conventional type of collaboration. To evaluate and understand spatial workspace collaboration, the point of focus, number of words, and verbal expressions were examined. Based on these analyses, the following requirements on groupware are deduced to support spatial workspace collaboration: realtime bi‐directional video communication; availability of nonverbal expressions; positional changeability of point of focus; ability to share points of focus; positional changeability of display; and confirmation ability.