Presentation at OZCHI 2013.
Paper reference: Bilandzic, M., Schroeter, R., & Foth, M. (2013) Gelatine: Making coworking places gel for better collaboration and social learning. In Proceedings of OZCHI 2013, 25-29 November 2013, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.
Download link: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/61844/
AWS Community Day CPH - Three problems of Terraform
Gelatine: Making coworking places gel for better collaboration and social learning
1. Gelatine: Making Coworking
Places Gel for Better Collaboration
and Social Learning !
!
Mark Bilandzic!
Ronald Schroeter!
Marcus Foth!
Urban Informatics Research Lab!
Queensland University of Technology!
Queensland
University
of
Technology,
Urban
Informa:cs
Research
Lab
22. User
The Edge /
Checkin-Point
real-time update
physical presence
RFID user card
load user profile
web user profile
- skills (how can I help other users?)
- needs (how can other users help me?)
- interests
Website /
Database
public screen
thermal printer
user profile
ticket
Traditional role of libraries:
Facilitators of information and knowledge
Provide access to information (traditionally mostly books)
=> democratisation of knowledge (books for everyone no matter if rich or poor)
However, libraries are NOT in the book business! they are in the knowledge and information business…
Libraries are NOT physical repositories for book, but rather learning environments!
Gelatine is concerned with enhancing social / connected learning among library users…
There is 3 factors that influence learning… (according to Falk & Dierking, 2002)
Learning is more effective if intrinsically motivated…
Providing a inspiring physical context, that’s what most libraries (especially the newer ones) do very well
Wide open rooms
Natural light
Environmentally pleasing architecture, etc.
However, libraries do not provide a social learning experience per se…
A few example’s of successful social learning environemnts
Environment built explicitly with social interaction and collaboration in mind
The Edge is a bookless (!) library / learning environment built with user participation, creation and co-creation of knowledge in mind
Perfect case study environment
Main results of the ethnographic study:
Bahavioural norm is people working next to each other rather than with each other
Collaboration mostly only among people who have come to The Edge together
Very little serendipitous encounters and crossfertilisation of knowledge between people who haven’t known each other before coming to The Edge
There are social barriers to start an interaction with a stranger
It’s hard to identify people with similar / complementary skils
Gelatine provides answers to the following questions:
How can other users help me?
How can I help other users?
What areas of interests can I engage in with other users?
Colour coded keywords
Interactive / tap on tag cloud opens a window with details/location of the person behind the tag
Gelatine was installed at the entrance of The Edge. Served as the main point of information how users can engage with the space right after they come in…
‘audience funnel’ – only a certain percentage of users transitions from one phase to another, and eventually, only a fraction of users ends up engaging in direct or multiple interactions with the public screen.
21 test users from Hack The Evening
Pilot study over 6 days at The Edge
Sit in a distant corner and observe users passing through the “audience funnel”
80 % ignore the screen:
Regulars: 12 out of those 13 interviewees / had been visiting The Edge for at least three months on a weekly or sometimes daily basis
Have a particular pre-entry motivation / established routines
Backpacker use the computers / free internet
English lessons with a tutor
Read online news / youtube videos.
20% who viewed/reacted or directly interacted
New people to The Edge: wandering around the space, looking at posters, brochures and signage in an attempt to find out what this place is about.
Ambience of the system important. Would not see or visit website.
“I am here to find a job, not interested in much else to be honest.” (P1)
“I am here to prepare for my English test, why would I bother talking to anyone else?” (P10)
“I don’t normally communicate with people. I don’t come here for social purposes [...] I don’t think I would use [Gelatine]. I can see how it’s a good service, and how a lot of people might benefit from it, but I am more of an individual user. I have my own interests and stuff that I look at.” (P4)
Space does not equal place…
Designers of place can’t tell what people should use place for.
But Gelatine provides a virtual window for people to see what other people use the space for….
“It will be so much easier you come and see ‘oh that person is actually somewhere in here.’ I will definitely be a user of this, I am signing up. To meet other musicians and music producers [...] Honestly, I was trying to find a way how to put it, but I mean this is what’s missing. It’s very vital for people to interact...” (I3).
People who have been here for a long time / daily basis…
Depends on personality and general openness
Use only for personal benefit / learning purposes. No chit-chat
(Bilandzic, Schroeter, & Foth, 2013, in review)
