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Distributed Design Reviews. Wassim Jabi, Ph.D. Assistant Professor New Jersey School of Architecture New Jersey Institute of Technology jabi@njit.edu. Acknowledgments. NJIT: Mike Kehoe, NJSOA Vic Passaro, Media Services Michael Smart, NJSOA (Student Presenter)
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Distributed Design Reviews Wassim Jabi, Ph.D. Assistant Professor New Jersey School of Architecture New Jersey Institute of Technology jabi@njit.edu
Acknowledgments • NJIT: • Mike Kehoe, NJSOA • Vic Passaro, Media Services • Michael Smart, NJSOA (Student Presenter) • Pennsylvania State University: • Gavin Burris (aka 86) • Dr. Loukas Kalisperis • Prof. George Otto
Background and Motivation • Design reviews are one of the most important forms of pedagogical communication between design instructors and students (Cuff, 1993). • Talking and Drawing are the two most fundamental components of a language of design (Schön, 1983) • Justification for the design studio teaching strategy often relies on the aggregate studio culture created by successive shared and overlapping design conversations. • Studio faculty occasionally travel, or support practices in two cities, taking them out of town on a weekly basis. Distributed design reviews would be a great boon. • The ability to use the Internet to involve remote expertise at a minimum cost would significantly expand the pool of candidate reviewers.
SmartBoard + Access Grid Node Access Grid Node: Video / Audio X,Y Pen/Eraser/Mouse Mouse Up/Down Double-click Video Signal
Top Ten Problems (Tested using low bandwidth) • Shadows. Need rear-projection screens. • Netmeeting/Messenger is platform-specific. (Webex.com is promising, but not free). • Audio Feedback Problems. Echo Cancellation / audio testing ahead of time. • Voice-Over-IP Latency/Lag. Faster network. • Security (Firewall) prevented collaboration. Needed to establish a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) • Local jurors almost never went up to the board to sketch. Used laser pointer which remote juror could not see. Need multi-user wireless cursor/annotation control device. • Body language/gestures not transmitted. Video/Avatar/Telepresence. • Bandwidth limitations (animations/video). See #4. • Lack of familiarity. Introduce technology ahead of time. • Glare (Hotspot) from projector. See #1..
Top Ten Successes • Effective Discussion/Reviews • Technology Disappeared • Intuitive Interface • Student stands next to artifact • Student interacts directly with artifact • Voice and graphics synchronized • Non-destructive sketching a boon • Students did not need to prepare more for a distributed review • SmartBoard worked for both co-located and distributed reviews • Set up is portable/moveable • Cost-effective, saves air travel costs. • Time zone difference was advantageous
The Ten Commandments • Start Early / Plan Ahead • Test. Test. Test. • Know Thy Neighbor • Use Back-Channel Diplomacy • Adjust Expectations • Keep it Cozy • Know Thy Software • Encourage Symmetry • Use Big Pipes • Have a Plan B … and C (aka Graceful Degradation)