ABSTRACT
Activity-based computing represents an alternative to the dominant application- and document-centric model at the foundation of most mainstream desktop computing interfaces. In this paper, we present in-depth results from an in situ, longitudinal study of an activity-based computing system, Giornata. We detail the ways that the specific features of this system influenced the everyday work experiences of a small cohort of knowledge workers. Our analysis provides contributions at several levels of granularity-we provide concrete design recommendations based on participants' reactions to the particular features of the Giornata system and a discussion about how our findings can provide insight about the broader understanding of knowledge work and activity within HCI.
- Bannon, L., Cypher, A., Greenspan, S. and Monty, M.L. Evaluation and analysis of users' activity organization. In Proc. CHI '83, ACM Press (1983), 54--57. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Bardram, J.E. Activity-based computing: Support for mobility and collaboration in ubiquitous computing. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing 9, 5 (September 2005), 312--322. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Barreau, D. and Nardi, B.A. Finding and reminding: File organization from the desktop. ACM SIGCHI Bulletin 27 (1995), 39--43. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Bergman, O., Beyth-Marom, R. and Nachmias, R. The project fragmentation problem in personal information management. In Proc. CHI 2006, ACM Press (2006), 271--274. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Czerwinski, M., Horvitz, E. and Wilhite, S. A diary study of task switching and interruptions. In Proc. CHI '04, ACM Press (2004), 175--182. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Dragunov, A.N., Dietterich, T.G., Johnsrude, K., McLaughlin, M., Li, L. and Herlocker, J.L. Tasktracer: A desktop environment to support multi-tasking knowledge workers. In Proc. IUI '05, ACM Press (2005), 75--82. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Engeström, Y. Learning by Expanding: An Activity-Theoretical Approach to Developmental Research. Orienta-Konsultit Oy, Helsinki, Finland, 1987.Google Scholar
- González, V.M. and Mark, G. "Constant, constant, multi-tasking craziness": Managing multiple working spheres. In Proc. CHI 2004, ACM Press (2004), 113--120. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Henderson, J.D.A. and Card, S.K. Rooms: The use of multiple virtual workspaces to reduce space contention in window-based graphical user interfaces. ACM Transactions on Graphics 5, 3 (July 1986), 211--241. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Kaptelinin, V. UMEA: Translating interaction histories into project contexts. In Proc. CHI '03, ACM Press (2003), 353--360. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Kaptelinin, V. and Nardi, B.A. Acting with Technology: Activity Theory and Interaction Design. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2006. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Kidd, A. The marks are on the knowledge worker. In Proc. CHI '94, ACM Press (1994), 186--191. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Lansdale, M. The psychology of personal information management. Applied Ergonomics 19, 1 (1998), 55--66.Google Scholar
- Leont'ev, A.N. Activity, Consciousness, and Personality (M.J. Hall, Trans.). Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1978.Google Scholar
- MacIntyre, B., Mynatt, E.D., Voida, S., Hansen, K.M., Tullio, J. and Corso, G.M. Support for multitasking and background awareness using interactive peripheral displays. In Proc. UIST '01, ACM Press (2001), 41--50. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Malone, T.W. How do people organize their desks? Implications for the design of office information systems. ACM Transactions on Office Information Systems 1, 1 (January 1983), 99--112. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Mark, G., González, V.M. and Harris, J. No task left behind? Examining the nature of fragmented work. In Proc. CHI '05, ACM Press (2005), 320--330. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Muller, M.J., Geyer, W., Brownholtz, B., Wilcox, E. and Millen, D.R. One-hundred days in an activity-centric collaboration environment based on shared objects. In Proc. CHI '04, ACM Press (2004), 375--382. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Nair, R., Voida, S. and Mynatt, E.D. Frequency-based detection of task switches. In Proc. HCI 2005, Springer (2005), 94--99.Google Scholar
- Robertson, G., van Dantzich, M., Robbins, D., Czerwinski, M., Hinckley, K., Risden, K., Thiel, D. and Gorokhovsky, V. The Task Gallery: A 3D window manager. In Proc. CHI 2000, ACM Press (2000), 494--501. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Smith, G., Baudisch, P., Robertson, G., Czerwinski, M., Meyers, B., Robbins, D. and Andrews, D. GroupBar: The TaskBar evolved. In Proc. OZCHI 2003, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (2003), 34--43.Google Scholar
- Sproull, L.S. The nature of managerial attention. Advances in Information Processing in Organizations 1 (1984), 9--27.Google Scholar
- Voida, S., Edwards, W.K., Newman, M.W., Grinter, R.E. and Ducheneaut, N. Share and share alike: Exploring the user interface affordances of file sharing. In Proc. CHI '06, ACM Press (2006), 221--230. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Voida, S., Mynatt, E.D. and Edwards, W.K. Re-framing the desktop interface around the activities of knowledge work. To appear in Proc. UIST 2008, ACM Press (2008). Google ScholarDigital Library
- Vygotsky, L.S. and Cole, M. Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1978.Google Scholar
- Whittaker, S. and Sidner, C. Email overload: Exploring personal information management of email. In Proc. CHI '96, ACM Press (1996), 276--283. Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- It feels better than filing: everyday work experiences in an activity-based computing system
Recommendations
Re-framing the desktop interface around the activities of knowledge work
UIST '08: Proceedings of the 21st annual ACM symposium on User interface software and technologyThe venerable desktop metaphor is beginning to show signs of strain in supporting modern knowledge work. In this paper, we examine how the desktop metaphor can be re-framed, shifting the focus away from a low-level (and increasingly obsolete) focus on ...
Co-activity manager: integrating activity-based collaboration into the desktop interface
AVI '12: Proceedings of the International Working Conference on Advanced Visual InterfacesActivity-Based Computing (ABC) has been proposed as an organisational structure for local desktop management and knowledge work. Knowledge work, however, typically occurs in partially overlapping subgroups and involves the use of multiple devices. We ...
Activity-Based Computing
The articles in this special issue focus on context-aware systems designed to recognize activities. They present underlying technologies for developing activity-aware systems and report on experiences with activity recognition in real-world ...
Comments