| Tabletop displays represent one new technology intended to support face-to-face collaboration. An issue of particular importance for tabletop displays is orientation: since individuals may sit at different sides of the display, collaborators do not necessarily share a common view of the workspace. To investigate the role of orientation in tabletop collaboration, I present an observational study of collaboration over a traditional table. An analysis of this study reveals three major roles that orientation plays in tabletop collaboration: comprehension, coordination, and communication. Based on these roles of orientation, I present a fluid tabletop rotation technique, Rotate 'N Translate ( RNT), that provides integral control of rotation and translation using a single touch-point for input. Lastly, I present an evaluation comparing RNT to the standard technique that separates control of rotation and translation. Results of this study indicate RNT better supports the communicative and comprehensive roles of orientation, without sacrificing support for coordination. |
