An information-theoretic approach to the study of ubiquitous computing workspaces supporting geographically distributed engineering design teams as group-users

This research examined the problem of group-to-group distributed design collaboration, specifically situations in which co-located subgroups at different sites work together as a single. We chose to explore the use of ubiquitous computing technologies, since these offered the opportunity to develop interfaces better suited to team interaction. We were specifically interested in how the physical nature of technological tools influenced design activity.; Our investigations began with a study of co-located design activity that established a baseline understanding of how teams use information in conceptual design. This work extended results from prior studies of individual designers to develop a group-oriented design activity framework. We compared the discussion structure of two teams engaged in conceptual design and determined that their concept development patterns were significantly different despite the fact that their information activity profiles were strikingly similar. We also observed that the teams used their workspace to share information in very different ways, which prompted us to speculate that the physical manner in which information is available in a workspace might impact design teams' activity patterns.; Our initial study of co-located design highlighted the need for improved methodological approaches. We developed data collection and analysis techniques to improve the efficiency of research investigations and enable researchers to handle the increased complexity of technology-enabled spaces supporting distributed engineering design teams. We articulated standards for developing experimental tasks and used these to create simulated engineering design tasks that enabled a paired-comparison experimental approach.; Finally, we explored group-to-group distributed engineering design activity in a structured experiment. Our data showed that the physical configuration of technology affected observable activity measures and patterns of verbal exchange across distributed sites and that peripheral communication channels allowed multiple individuals to work in parallel to accelerate information development and exchange. The data also showed participants felt the peripheral channel affordances made them feel more connected with remote colleagues.; This work may have broad implications for engineering design research, as it articulates new frameworks for studying technologies used in engineering design workplaces and suggests new methodological approaches to data collection and analysis in the field.