The Collaborative Nature of a Table.
This is some of the characteristics of physical tables, and how these characteristics contrast with vertical displays.
People can easily reach anywhere on the table’s surface. This means that people can annotate any writable area on the table e.g., large pieces of paper, and can manipulate objects lying anywhere on its surface. In contrast, people have to move around each other to reach different parts of a vertical display.
People usually sit down when using a table. This has several significant implications. First, it is more comfortable, meaning that people can spend longer times at a table vs. standing at a whiteboard. Second, people’s seating positions tend to be more stable, as people rarely switch chairs in the middle of a session, and sometimes even claim the same chair in successive sessions. In contrast, people move around vertical displays.
Where people sit—side-by-side, kitty-corner, opposite sides—affects their interaction style. It changes what is in their line of site, their peripheral awareness of activities occurring on the table, as well as their sense of proximity to one another. In this sense, a table allows people to decide how close they want to be to each other, and how directly they want to face each other. In contrast, vertical displays only allow side-by-side interaction.
When people are seated, the area directly in front of each individual is often used as their personal space. Vertical displays do not have this property.
People seated at opposite sides of a table do not share the same orientation of the objects on it. Orientation can be a problem, as people have more difficulty reading or manipulating objects that are upsidedown. However, people can use orientation as a resource to indicate whether a drawing is personal (oriented towards the drawer and within one’s own personal space) vs. shared (oriented towards the viewer and outside one’s personal space) .
- Simultaneous interaction.
Tables promote many simultaneous activities, more so than vertical displays. We suspect this is due to the easy reachability of objects, and that one’s personal space on the table defines an area where one can work without getting in the way of others.
Since a table is flat, people place actual physical objects on its surface. This is in sharp contrast to vertical displays. We suspect this is a strong reason why groups gather around tables, as it is easy to bring both personal and group artifacts into the conversation.
Because of holding, reach, seating and simultaneous interaction, people can easily share artifacts by passing them around the surface.
Because of seating and holding, a table encourages casual interactions. People sit at tables for comfort, for recreation (eating lunch, playing games), and impromptu meetings. Thus tables are multipurpose devices.
Positions around circular or square tables promote equality, whereas rectangular tables place certain people at more advantageous positions than others.
Size affects reach, people’s sense of proximity, and how many objects they can hold without clutter.
Resources: Collaborating over Physical and Electronic Tables
