Abstract
Talking about and with things is characteristic of design communication. In this paper we are concerned with how to design computer-mediated communication (CMC) systems that support such talk between designers separated by distance. We describe a design method based on Scrivener’s (2002) postulate that users in a communication environment satisfy communication purpose by selecting, from the resources available to them, that most appropriate for communication purpose. A method for enhancing the overall utility of a given CMC environment is described where analysis of the shifts between resources reveals insight into their relative strengths and weaknesses which is then used to synthesise design improvements. It is claimed that because the method focuses on user behaviour in a particular communication environment it facilitates the discovery of the latent communication possibilities offered by that environment. Nevertheless, because the method yields statements that describe visual communication needs independently of the particular communication environment studied, the needs uncovered by using it should prove characteristic of a broad range of visual communication contexts.
Citation
Chen, C., Scrivener, S., and Woodcock, A. (2002) Using visual communication resource shifts to inform CMC design, in Durling, D. and Shackleton, J. (eds.), Common Ground - DRS International Conference 2002, 5-7 September, London, United Kingdom. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2002/researchpapers/16
Using visual communication resource shifts to inform CMC design
Talking about and with things is characteristic of design communication. In this paper we are concerned with how to design computer-mediated communication (CMC) systems that support such talk between designers separated by distance. We describe a design method based on Scrivener’s (2002) postulate that users in a communication environment satisfy communication purpose by selecting, from the resources available to them, that most appropriate for communication purpose. A method for enhancing the overall utility of a given CMC environment is described where analysis of the shifts between resources reveals insight into their relative strengths and weaknesses which is then used to synthesise design improvements. It is claimed that because the method focuses on user behaviour in a particular communication environment it facilitates the discovery of the latent communication possibilities offered by that environment. Nevertheless, because the method yields statements that describe visual communication needs independently of the particular communication environment studied, the needs uncovered by using it should prove characteristic of a broad range of visual communication contexts.