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Human-Computer Interaction

Advanced Collaborative Environments

The Advanced Collaborative Environments project began in the summer of 2002 and is expected to continue until the summer of 2005.

Project researchers are examining and enhancing the facets of quality of experience in advanced collaborative environments, in order to facilitate the interaction between people across space, time and culture. Researchers are focusing on facilitating interaction within collaborative environments over broadband and wireless networks, across multiple tools and capabilities.

On completion, researchers expect to have developed a framework for ensuring a consistent experience for users of collaborative environments, one that allows for the transparent use of such systems.

To optimize users' experience of collaborative environments, systems should continuously monitor interactions, adjusting both low-and high-level parameters and the support structure as required to maximize the quality of experience and interaction for all participants, whatever their location or available tools.

Optimizing users' experiences in collaborative environments could greatly enhance business meeting and wireless collaborative technologies, as well as "always-on" videoconferencing.

Ultimately, positive research results will benefit e-learning and e-health, particularly in the area of remote consultation and diagnostics, as well as the entertainment, business of business and business of research sectors.

In their study of Advanced Collaborative Environments, researchers are using:

• AccessGrid nodes
• digital projection tables for local and distributed cooperative interactions
• wireless handheld devices, such as Palm and PocketPC
• the Ca*Net 4 broadband network

In this research, NRC-IIT is partnered with the New Media Innovation Centre (NewMIC) in Vancouver, BC; and the Communications Research Centre (CRC) in Ottawa, ON.

Opportunities

1. Inquiries about collaborating in this research are most welcome. The project team is particularly interested in collaborators working in areas that will advance the development of tools and capabilities; namely:
   • the enhancement of person-to-person interactions across broadband networks
   • pervasive computing, wireless communications and portable devices
   • the social understanding of collaboration
   • cultural studies

Anyone interested in collaborating in this project is asked to contact the project lead listed below.

2. The following technology transfer opportunities are also available:
   • understanding social and cultural interactions across distance
   • tools and applications for collaborative environments
   • cognitive modeling technology for user performance analysis
   • intelligent furniture for collaborative environments

Please contact the Business Development Officer listed below to discuss these opportunities.

Research Contact

Dr. Andrew Patrick
Research Officer
Information Security
NRC Institute for Information Technology
1200 Montreal Road
Building M-50, Room 286
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1 (613) 991-3374
Fax: +1 (613) 952-7151
E-mail: Andrew.Patrick@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Business Contact

Dr. George Forester
Business Development Officer
Business Development Office, NCR
NRC Institute for Information Technology
1200 Montreal Road
Building M-50, Room 203
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1 (613) 993-3478
Fax: +1 (613) 952-0074
E-mail: George.Forester@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca