Title: Interaction design patterns for computers in sociable use

Authors: Mattias Arvola

Addresses: Department of Computer and Information Science, Linkoping University, Linkoping SE-581 83, Sweden

Abstract: This paper contributes to a growing body of design patterns in interaction design for cooperative work, while also describing how to go from field studies to design patterns. It focuses on sociable face-to-face situations. The patterns are based on field studies and design work in three sociable settings, where desirable use qualities were identified and translated into forces in three design patterns for controlling information visibility. On the basis of the patterns, the design of a multiple-device multimedia platform is described. It is shown that desirable qualities of systems-in-use can be utilised as forces in patterns, which means that traditional qualitative research is highly valuable when documenting design knowledge in patterns. Three classes of interaction design patterns are identified: environments for interactions, means for interaction and interfaces for interaction. These classes describe types of patterns within a hierarchical model of interaction design.

Keywords: human–computer interaction; HCI; computer supported cooperative work; CSCW; social computing; colocated collaboration; design patterns; use quality; interaction design; cooperative systems; information visibility; multimedia platform; collaborative systems; design knowledge.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2006.009063

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2006 Vol.25 No.2/3, pp.128 - 139

Published online: 21 Feb 2006 *

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