A multiple, virtual-workspace interface to support user task switching
CHI '87 Proceedings of the SIGCHI/GI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems and Graphics Interface
Tangible bits: towards seamless interfaces between people, bits and atoms
Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human factors in computing systems
Design and technology for Collaborage: collaborative collages of information on physical walls
Proceedings of the 12th annual ACM symposium on User interface software and technology
The Task Gallery: a 3D window manager
Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
UMEA: translating interaction histories into project contexts
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Mediator and medium: doors as interruption gateways and aesthetic displays
DIS '02 Proceedings of the 4th conference on Designing interactive systems: processes, practices, methods, and techniques
"Constant, constant, multi-tasking craziness": managing multiple working spheres
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
A diary study of task switching and interruptions
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Controlling interruptions: awareness displays and social motivation for coordination
CSCW '04 Proceedings of the 2004 ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work
Lilsys: Sensing Unavailability
CSCW '04 Proceedings of the 2004 ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work
Presence versus availability: the design and evaluation of a context-aware communication client
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
No task left behind?: examining the nature of fragmented work
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Communication chains and multitasking
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
The cost of interrupted work: more speed and stress
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Conversations Amidst Computing: A Study of Interruptions and Recovery of Task Activity
UM '07 Proceedings of the 11th international conference on User Modeling
| Hi-index | 0.00 |
Most technical support for multi-tasking considers multi-tasking as a single-user activity. We consider multi-tasking instead as a collaborative activity and in this paper, we report on a prototype designed to help people manage interruptions by broadcasting to colleagues their availability for interruptions for specific projects. The prototype is designed as a tangible interface, a desktop "Japanese Garden" where rocks represent a person's projects. We first performed ethnographic observations of the prototype in a natural work environment and found that users used the prototype easily to signal work on their current task-at-hand. However, we found that social agreements are needed as well as a technical solution. We then conducted an experiment to test the use of the prototype compared to using a chat system alone to signal availability for interruptions. Our results showed that with our prototype, task performance results did not differ, but collaborating partners sent significantly fewer coordination messages, fewer inappropriate messages, and produced fewer interruptions. We discuss future design ideas using tangible interfaces to manage multi-tasking.