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IELETilHENLE0ntrilo Tdepnsence Project

Techno logy / Me thodo logy Inven to ry

June, 1993

oTP-93-06

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Ontario Telepresence Proj ect

Technology/Nlethodology InventoryOntario Telepresence Project

June 1993

One of the outPuts of the Ontario Telepresence Project is a stream of innovations whichmay be relevant of the products and services of the Project's Industrial Partners. Theseinnovations manifest themselves as hardware, software, system prototypes andmethodologies.

This -document gives a brief description of some of the technologres and methodologiesthat have been developed internally or adopted from outside sources. For moreinformation on any of these, contact the Managing Director of the ontario TelepresenceProiect.

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Engineering

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Description:

Aruwers incoming video Codec calls; plays an outgoing message; records an incomingmessage until the caller hangs up the Codec. Can be used with one or two VCRs (onefor outgoing, one for incoming, or one for both).

Strengths:

This is unique.

Form:

Uses D-Boxes (see below) for VCR control. Written in C. Demonstrated on PC-DOS (butlocks the whole rnachine up), and Sun UNIX using the our Codec seryer. It can coexistwith IIIF on a Sun.

Caveats:

Experimental Out pretty simple) software.

Other:

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TAS/IllF Servers

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Description:

Audio/Video Device and Charurel Switching,/Control Software Servers. Maintains avirtual office model, including the concept of door-state for personal accessibility.Provides call management for point-to.point and (internal) multipoint A/Vsynchronous connections. Controls devices such as a PictTel Codec, various brands ofbaseband A/V switches, and VCRs. It is the A/V analog of the telephone PBX.TAS/ItrF servers at different sites will be able to communicate with each other in orderthat connectioru can be made between users at different sites in a reasonablytransparent manner.

Form:

Seryers are wriften in C and run on Sun UNIX pladorms, SunOs 4.1.3. The software isquite sophisticated.

Strengths:

Fairly unique as a capability, and extersible through new applications (such asPortholes) which exploit the switching features.

Caveats:

Needs client programs that exploit its intelligence (there are some, see below). Softwareis part owned by Xerox. Servers are single tfueaded, thus they probably could nothandle large sites. Fairly robust but could be improved. Uses Internet services forcommunications.

0ther:

The inter-TAS/IIIF communications is currently under development.

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D-Box VCR Controller

Description:

An inexpensive RS-232 based controller for Sony Control-L protocol. One D-box cancontrol 2 or 4 VCRs simultaneously.

Form:

Device built by Dave Dunfield. Software is C. But, stored in an EEPROM, so end usersdo not see any software, just a device.

Strengths:

Much cheaper per controlled VCR than the Sony V-Box.

Caveats:

Only supports control-L, but with the development kit, could be extended to otherprotocols. Not a mass produced product at this time.

0ther:

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Voice Seruer

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Description:

Provides generalized telco/baseband audio/computer accessible acquisition, storage,manipulatiory and replay of digital voice data. Voice data can be edited in a "tape

recorder" like manner. This serves as a general infrastructure for digital voice basedapplications, such as voice mail (see below).

Form:

PCISCO UNIX, Dialogics telco interface cards, a baseband audio/telco bridge andother computer peripherals. Can also be run without the telco interface on any System Vcompatible UNIX platform.

Strengths:

Fairly unique in its flenbility. Very extensible for new applications involving digitalvoice.

Caveats:

Experimental component; still under development, but it is demonstrable through thevoice mail application (see below). Audio interface not there yet, and will be a customsolutiory although Dialogics provides a rather expensive altemative.

Other:

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Universal Voice Mail

Description:

An application using the voice server technology to capttue, transfer, and playba&voice mail from a telephone interface, baseband audio interface, or computerworkstations with sound capability (PC with SoundBlaster, MAC, Sun SPARC). It (will)support several interfaces: (1.) a voice automated attendant for the telephone - the usualtype of interface for leaving and picl,ing up messages; (2) a custom X-client (withequivalents on MACs, PCs) for picking up, sending, forwarding etc., voice mail; (3) aversion of ELM (a public domain email interface with MME capability) that will permitsimilar functions to (2). Voice data is stored and transmitted using ADPCM, andconversion routines are supplied to handle the different audio formats of the signalprocessing chips in the various computers.

Form:

In its most general for it uses the fuIl telco capable Voice Server, and the rest is in C.

Strengths:

Quite unique in its universality, and bridging of the computer and telco domains. Usingthe non-telco Voice Server, can support voice mail delivery at virtually any site,induding those that normally restrict access to networks for security because it usesconventional email to ship the messages between sites.

Caveats:

To get the telco access you need a telco-capable Voice Server. Furthermore, to have telcopickup access you must use the custom client interface (for computer access of mail) ascurrently the telco pickup and ELM pickup are mutually exdusive (the applicationknows which interface - custom or ELM) is to be used for each user. It uses Intemet mailfor message transfer between ELM interface and Voice Server, and between VoiceServers at different sites. The custom client does not use mail to cornmunicate with theVoice Server. And of course it uses lnternet services for other communications. It usesInternet email addresses to address voice mail (where appropriate)

Other:

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Video Mail

Description:

Sends, receives short (2 minutes or less) video messages (including audio) betweenusers in a local site. It consists of a custom MAC client, and a VMail server that storesmessages in analog (VCRS). It uses the TAS/IIIF servers as a means of routing thebaseband A/V to the video storage device.

Form:

The MAC client is in SUPERCARD and the VMail software is in C. It needs one or moreVCRs and D-boxes to control the VCRs, and of course the TAS/ItrF infrastructure.

Strengths:

Fairly unique application.

Caveats:

just an experiment right now, and r.rnder refinement. Only works in a TAS/IIIF sitealthough this dependence is not really substantial. Video mail is not shipped out of alocal site as yet. It may be a little slow because of the analog storage.

Other:

We will be replacing the analog sewer with a fully digital video server. This shouldimprove performance, but will need a dedicated machine. We will be exploring thehandling of cross site mail, the integration of the video answering machine as aninterface to video mail, and integration with the custom voice mail client.

Description:

This is a facility currently under design that will provide caPture' tl"tiq:'f11:L"t tf

;;;il;;id"" i.r a digitiform. It is a iideo analog to the voice server' and in fact its

process architecture and extensibility are to be tli" tu^.. The inputs and o.utputs will be

iili L"r"ur"a video and possibly audio. As the design is not as.yet finalized, we may

caDture audio and video together,'otherwise the voice server can be used to handle

;il;t,h r ;ii"ui" a"tu r?"cture to maintain syncfuonization between the audio and..rid"o ,"g*"r,ts. The initial application will be video mail (replacing the analog devices)'

Form:

PCISCO UND( computer with specialized video processing cald: (and/or Soyble

some combination o? DOS chassis that communicate with the IJNIX system), storage

p".ipt ".urr, ."aed in c and using lnternet communications to communicate with other

machines.

Strengths:

Very flexible as a plafform for different applicatiors, and should be reasonably

ineipensive. Ttrere are not many digital vi-deo servers available commercially.

Caveats:

still under design, so it is still in the idea stage. The end result will be experimental.

Other:

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An application for background awareness developed by Xerox. Using the TAS/IF'servers, it periodically (say once/minute) routes a user's camera to a frame grabber and"takes a snapshot" usually kept in low resolution. Periodically, subscribers to theportholes facility are sent an updated cornposite of snapshots (say once per 5 minutes)so that they are aware of who is in their office to give a sense of community. Picturescan be sent to subscribers at different sites, so that distributed awareness is possible.

Uses TAS/IIIF, uses a frame grabber in a Sun, and the Internet for transfer of imagesbetween sites. Written in C. Uses an X-dient for the user interface.

This is a unique capability.

Caveats:

It is owned by Xerox. We are studying its usefulness and will have it operating betweenthe Toronto and Ottawa Telepresence sites, and possible other sites. We will makemodifications to improve its utility, if we decide that the idea has sufficient merit. It isexperimental in nature.

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Description:

From Xerox, a real-time, digital video over the Internet application. It will provide alive video connection using a video capture card with a video in a window feature.

Form:

Runs on a Sun over the Internet using a specific video card.

Strengths:

One of a few instances of this type of technology, it eliminates the need for basebandvideo technology and is moving in the direction of high speed networks.

Caveats:

It will saturate most conventional LANs, or a busy fiber LAN. We are studying theusefulness of this approach. It is experimental.

Other:

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An inexpensive facility for integrating live or recorded baseband video with aconventional graphics (drawing) tool so that the video can be annotated using thegraphics tool. The composite image is then generated as baseband video. The net resultis that the video can be "marked up" in a manner typical of sports commentary.

Demorstrated on a PC,/SCO UNIX machine using X-windows, and video in a windowcard, and a VGA-Io-NTSC converter. A conventional X-based graphics tool was used.The video in a window card places the video feed in the graphics tool drawing canvas,and the VGA-to-NTSC takes the image on the PC screen and generates an NTSC result.

An inexpensive but very useful tool when combined with a similar facility at anothersite; e.g., the two of them connected by a video Codec. For example, it grves simpleshared drawing (but not with kuly shared objects), and ability to combine computeroutput (e.g., programs displayed on a screen or anything else), with a video feed(possibly live, e.8., from a site that needs remote troubleshooting, or from a VCR). Theoutput could be sent to a monitor or just as easily recorded.

Caveats:

It is just a demonstration, but it would be easy to build one from commercially availablecomPonents.

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Description:

A system to enable the control of interconnectioru among A/V components in a room.Consists of a computer controlled A/V switch and software. The software has fourIayers, each for a di-fferent kind of use and user. For the normal (novice) user, there is alist of presets that can be selected. Next, there is a "coruole" that lets the user makeindividual connections. For the more expert user, there is an interface that permits thedefinition and editing of presets. Finally, for the administrator, there is an interface forspecifying the configuration of the components with respect to the switch.

A key part of the system is that it has some built-in intelligence. The softvvare can bemade aware of the status of the components (such as a VCR) that are cornected to theswitch. Thus, if one inserts a videotape into a VCR and hits the "Play" bufton, thesystem will automatically connect the VCR to a monitor. Likewise, in the middle of avideoconference, if one hits the "play" button, it will reconfigure the system so that thetape is visible to both sides of the conference. On the other hand, if one hits "record,"

then both sides of the meeting will automatically be recorded. AII of this removes alevel of complexity from the end user.

Form:

A very experimental version has been implemented in SUPERCARD on a MAC. Itcontrols VCRs through D-Boxes, an A/V cross bar switch, and a pictue-in-picture (PIP)unit.

Strengths:

This is a fairly unique concept, and in its general form, will be a significant commercialopportunity.

Caveats:

This is a very shaky experimental implementation. We are studying the concepts, anduser interfaces. The current user interface needs work, and the software was assembledquickly but not efficiently. It is not robust nor portable.

Other:

We may elect to build a second generation DAN using a simple version of TAS,/IIIF thatwill, when combined with the network concepts described later, yield the generalsolution. ln the meantime, different types of user interfaces are being studied by our UIresearchers.

MCSlNetwork Suppoft

A generalized network architecture for telepresence applicatiors that collaboratebetween different "sites"; a site could be based around a TAS/IIIF server, or a DAN, orsimilar entities. Using MCS (multipoint communications system) as thecommunications substrate, the architecture would allow for the incremental addition ofnew applicatiors, and resources that would be shared among sites. It would provide agood facility for remote control of resources, inforrnation sharing, a distributed virtualoffice model, multipoint conference management, etc.

The prototype will be in C or C++ on a Sun using UNIX (or a PC,/SCO UNIX, or both),and use a version of MCS that is UNX compatible and then runs over TCP-IP as itsunderlying communications layer.

Will be a r:nique and exhemely flexible facility.

Caveats:

This is just in the design stage. We also need to create the MCS port to UNX.

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Applications

Descriptaon:

An electronic drafting table. The surface is a translucent 2 foot x 3 foot screen ontowhich a computer display is rear-projected. The screen is actually a digitizing tabletthat can sense the position of a stylus on its surface. Hence, a large surface pen-basedwork surface is provided. The desk lends itself to stand-alone graphics applications,such as CAD, as well as to collaborative distributed applications, such as Vis-a-Vis.

Form:

The image of a Macintosh screen is rear projected on a semi-transparent ScriptelDigitizing table. The ftriptel Digitizer tracks the location of an electronic pen on itssurface and reports its location to the Macintosh. Rear projection is provided by anoverhead projector which projects an image of the Macintosh screen from an LCDProjection Panel. The left hand is backed by an video camera above the desk. Imageanalysis software running on a Sun Sparc station locates the hand and relays it locationto the Macintosh.

Strengths:

The working iurface has a much closer fit than existing systems to both how work istraditionally done (therefore building on existing skills), and how work will be done inthe future, when large flaFpanel displays become widely available. The trnit willsupport existing applicatiors, and therefore has as much value as an "attention

grabber," such as at trade shows, as it does as a product. Works with a variety ofcomputers, such as PC, Macintosh, etc.

Caveats:

The units are bulky and expensive. Also, there is already a commercial productdeveloped independently (but not actively marketed) that may have some protection ofsome of the design ideas.

Olher:

A working prototype eists. Work is ongoing at improving the pen driver, and tryingto get a better stylus from the manufacturer. The largest hope is for the unit's ability tosupport new, more "natural" modes of interaction that employ the types of gestures thatone typically encounters on drafting tables and whiteboards. This work is ongoing, andwe have a serious lead on these techniques.

ra uncDescription:

A technique for supporting multiparty videoconferencing. Has shown to be farsuperior to conventional voice-activated switching (VAS). Is a hybrid between VAS andPortholes -like functionality. By default, like with VAS, the current speaker appears inthe main motion video display. As well, all other participants are visible in slow-scanimages, as with Portholes. Participants can change their view of who they focus theirattention upon by simply pointing at their Portholes image. In addition, users areaware of who is gazing at them tfuough feedback provided on their display. Amechanism for making private aside comments between participants is also provided.

Form:

This was written in C and runs on the Macintosh. Along with using the standard iiifinlrashucture it also uses an AKAI switcll a synthesizer, a Pitchrider and a noisegate inorder to interpret who is speaking and control the devices in the appropriate way.

Strengths:

Coupled with a product like Vis-a-Vis, this provides the most flexible and powerfulparadigm for multiparty desktop meetings. The technique effectively leverages edstingtechnologies, and could be developed on top of existing products now. The idea isoriginal to Telepresence.

Caveats:

There are few, other than the original market will require a certain base infrastructure(l-A,N connectivity and VAS multipoint unit), therefore limiting the initial market size.Will require significant development work to productize. However, working prototypehas been demonstrated.

Other:

Prototype has been built and tested. Concept has been proven effective.

Door Access ControlDescription:

A mechanism that permits the state of your physical door (opeO ajar, closed) to besensed and used to control your electronic accessibility. The notion is that the samemechanism that controls access for physical visitations does the same for electronic ones(telephone or video). Simple techniques are provided to over-ride the default setting.The point is to provide a cheap and transparent mechanism to divert phone calls andother interruptions when in a private meeting, for example.

Form:

Currently this has been prototyped by securing a mouse to the hinge of a door. Themouse will send back three door states: open, ajar, and closed. The software wasdeveloped on the Macintosh in Supercard, although some XFNC written in C were alsowritteru

Strengths:

Simple concept. Has market outside of computers and video. Could be simple door-activates switch that diverts phone to answering machine from handset, and back again.

Caveals:

To be mature, the unit will have to know a lot more than simply the status of the doorand control a switch. A real issue has emerged from our practical experience withdesktop-video: the problem of, say, telephone interrupdons during a meeting arefurther compounded when desktop video is introduced into the equation. For example,one has a telephone call in the middle of a videoconference, or vice versa, or a video calland telephone call during a face to face meeting. As the number of channels of entryinto the office increases, mechanisms to control access will become increasinglyimportant, but more complex.

Other:

The concept is defined. The iiif softr.vare understands the concept of door-state. Wehave a working prototype of an inexpensively instrumented door controlling videoaccess. The current version does not deal with the case of the telephone.

Description:

A tool for annotating, indexing and analyzing videotapes ad other time-based. data'

Smatl and compact. Ruru or, i Macintoih computer'-including Powerbook' What is

tvped is time-siamped, using the same time-baie as that of the video being

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typ""d annotations can then be used in analysis, indexing, or

annotatinS the taPe.

Form:

Aswasnotedinthedescription,TimelinesrunsonaMacintoshandwascodedusingLISP. The software 'speaks' to all control-L devices'

Strengiths:

The system works and is usable. It is built upon commercially available comPonents'

Caveats:

There are few. It would have to be rewritten in more robust code, but it is ready for

hansfer.

Other:

ThemanuallyoPeratedversionisinlatebetatesting.Documentationisinadequateatthe moment. Work is ongoing.

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surrogate." A video surrogate occupies the sami pirysical place that wouJd otherwisebe occupied by the remote participant if that participant was physically present. Thebenefit is that relatioruhips between physical location and social functions and socialdistance are maintained. For example, in a conference room, there wourd be a videosurrogate at the front which wouldbe used or remote presentatioru, but there wourdalq.be l surrogate at the back, around the table, to be ioccupied,,by

a remoteauditor/attendee. The next examples are specific instanti"tio* gi6*i"! "ut of thisnotion of video surrogate.

raDescription:

In a four-way meeting each participant would see each of the 3 remote particiants in aseparate video surrogate. The geometry of the round table would be preserved.Because each person is represented by a surrogate, things like gaze awareness and theability to redirect one's gaze are supported.

Besides their application in multiparty meetings, the physical design of the Hydra unitsare also well suited for desktop video and diadic desktop videoconferencing. Theyprovide an alternative to having the video appear in a window on the computer screen,where there is contention for screen real-estate. Becase of the tall-narrow form factor ofthe Hydra units, the video image appears adjacent to the computer monitor, but it doesnot interfere. And, because of the small foot-print, one pays a minimal price for havingan additional display.

Form:

These are small desk-top video surrogates. Each unit consists of an LCD monitor, CCDcamera and speaker. They are about 11. inches high, and have a footprint of about 3"x3". They were originally developed to support "around the table" meetings.

Strengths:

For,small group meetings, the Hydra units have proven a very effective way to supportmultiparty meetings. They are cost effective, and have proven useful even in point-to.point conferencing.

Caveats:

The underlying infrastucture to support Hydra{ike multiparty rneetings is not reallyeconomically or technologically feasible at this point.

Ofier:

Prototypes have been built and tested. The units could be replicated and developedcommercialy.

Description:

Two video surrogates are used in each office. One is on the desktop ("near") and one bythe door (far). Each consists of a camera, monitor and speaker. People entering orglancing into an office appear by the door. As with physically present visitors, theyonly enter when invited. Having these two surrogates means that one is better able topreserve conventional social mores concerning social distance, approach, anddeparture.

Form:

The near/far camera uses are controlled by the Desk Area Network (DAN). The a/vconnections are done using the standard iiif server protocol and the DAN routes theincoming and outgoing feed to the appropri ate near / far devices.

Strengths:

The appoach is simple to deploy and results in a significant change from conventionaldesk-top video.

Caveats:

There are few, other than logistical issues of switching and deploying the additionalgear. Also, the technique is not easily adapted when the video is digital rather thananalogue.

Front-2- B ack-2-F r ont Co nferenc i n g

Description:

Video conference rooms are equipped with a main camera monitor and speaker at thefront, but also one or more video surrogates (camera/monitor/speaker ) at the back.The units at the back are for remote attendees to the meeting, where as those at the frontare for the presentor. If people change roles - sometimes presenting and sometimes inthe audience - thery as with physically present paricipants, they move between the frontand their place around the table.

Form:

ln order to perform the Front-2-Back-2-Front conferencing the a/v inputs and outputsare controlled by the Desk Area Network (DAN). The a/v connections are done usingthe standard iiif server protocol and the DAN routes the incoming and outgoing feed tothe appropriate devices depending on what role the video surogate is in (presenter oraudience).

Strengths:

This means that conJerence roo[$ are far more flexible. No more will there be a remoteattendee sitting at the front behind the back of the local presenter. Also, this layoutprovides a new management tool. That is, a manager, or other would-beaarticipant,who cannot attend a meeting, can virtually "sit at the back" of the meeting, whilephysically remaining in their office, thereby being able to audit the meeting withouthaving to physically attend. In addition, the back of room camera provides aninfrastructure for recording the meeting/presentation, so that those unable to attendcan do so at a later time.

Caveats:

Few. Simply requires a way to reconfigure the room. This can be done easily with theDesk Area Network, discussed above.

Other:

Implemented and tested. Currently out of commission while the conference room isbeing reconfigured.

Social Science

Description:

A methodology to be used for planning, deploying and evaluating the introduction ofnew technology in organisa tions

Jhe mgFog Plovides a series of modules that cover all aspects of the adoption process. Itis specifically-designed to be responsive to the needs of thl participating organi'sation -the modular format encourages iustom tailoring of the *"tilod *ithi., i"ch"o.ganisation.

A number of techniques are used to :

. identify the key issues that need to be considered at each stage

' provide- an analysis of the issues within the context of the organisatioryit's employees, their work practices and existing technologies-

. offer a strategy for deploying the technology which involves theusers and takes into account the organisational culfure and current work practices

. evaluate the adoption process

Methodology and Modules:

There.are. three basic stages in-the process of inhoducing new technology into anorganisation - planning, installation or deployment andlvaluation. Asiociated witheach stage are a number of issues, the relevance of which must be r:nderstood in thecontext of the innovating organisation. The approach developed by the TelepresenceProject provides:

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' a series of modules for gathering the essential information at each stage,. a series of techniques to provide a bridge between the stages.

T

I. Planning Stage

Given the expense of new systems and the high cost to the organisation'.both financial

and in terms'of morale, of fiilure to adopt, it is crucial to evaluate organisational

readiness. The crucial issues at this stage focus on this factor' We recognize that

innovation frequently fails for social, and not technical reasons'

At this stage we look at the workplace and the organisation from a variety of,

p.trp".ti"Zt - e.g., work practicei, structure, technology' Modules that may be relevant

here include:

. OCC; Organisation Climate and Culture - Pre Irutallation

. IEA; Identification of Early Adopters

. CNS; Communciation Network Survey - Pre Installationo TFUI; Technology Familiarity and Use lnventory. WPA; Work Practices Analysis - Pre lnstallation

The results from this stage will condition the remainder of the Process' If a decision is

made to proceed we move to the First Traruition Stage:

Transition to Deployment

In this period it is essential to get the future users ofthe technology involved. The

modules developed for this stage focus on encouraging the futw9 users to become

stakeholders in ihe adoption Process. The mod,les at this stage include:

. Users Group

. lntroduction to the Technologyinduding EnvisionmentTechniques

. ParticiPatory Design Sessioruin particular, lnterface Design

These modules are tailormade to address the issues identilied in the Planning stage.

IL Deployment /Installation

The user is the focus of this stage, both at the individual level and through the Users

Group. The modules at this stage include:

. Training

. Documentation

. Support' Organisational. Technical

o Participatory Design Sessioru. Equipment Setup. Interface Design Issues

Transition to Evaluation

rnis i9 a relatively short period during which the technical aspects of the system arestabilized and the users gain experience with the system. The users Group remairs thefocus at this stage, providing a forum for discussion and sharing of experiences.

The information gathered at the users Group allows for fine tuning of the system andProcess€s.

III. Evaluation

In the final stage there is a formal evaluation of the process. Modules include:

. OCC; Organisation Climate and Culture - post Installation

. CNS; Communcation Network Survey - post lnstallation

. WPA; Work Practices Analysis - post Irstallation

Strengths:

The strength of this approach is that it has been developed by a research team, has beentested in the field in real working organisations, and has been used in the inhoductionoJ an unfamiliar and highly innovative technology which involves the use of video inthe workplace.

Research Teamo The_ methodology is informed by a philosophy which incorporates and respects the

9nd u1er, and is grounded in social science theory. The meihod has been dievelopedby an interdisciplinary team which includes behivioural scientists, sociologists,human computer interface designers and computer scientists.

Field Study' The methodology is being tested in the field in organisations that are introducing

Telepresence systems.

Innovative technology'

fhe te5hnglogy for which this methodology was developed is concerned with theintroduction into the workplace of technology which iniorporates video. The use ofvideo is unfamiliar in most workplaces andiaises a number of issues which canthwart adoption. Thus, the method has been tested under strict conditioru

Description:

vANNA is a-system for video annotation or "coding" video tapes. It is software thatruns on Apple MACINToSH computers which controls a vCR providing the user withthe ability to associate the text or tags with particular segments bf the tap1. As a result,it allows information storage on videotape as a document.

Form:

)/4\NA is 1 Hypercard stack which runs on a Mac tr. other hardware requirementsindude a VCR with Control-L facility, a colour monitor, and Control-L cable.

Strengths:

VANNA was designed to address a problem that many researchers in humaninteraction experience as a res rlt of using video tape.video is a very rich recordingmedium but the process of analyzing video takes ibnger than the viewing time of thetape. vANNA allows a skilled coder to code withoutitopping the tape. fhis drasticallyreduces the time to code a tape.

Caveats:

on-Track (the new version of vidclip) doesn't seem to work with a mac IIfx. whenusing System 7 virtual memory must be turned off for use with VidClip or On-Track.Y". tr_fo computers have a very different hardware implementation oithe serial port.sl"g" tF VidClip/onTrack software writes directly to the hardware it will not work ona Mac IIfx unless you insta[ the FX serial port compatibility conhol panel. This controlpanel must be set to compatible (rather than fast).

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Caveats:

None externally, but internally we need to get copyright protection/intellectualproperty protection for final documents (e.g., social science instruments, concePts,techniques, etc.)