Due to technical difficulties (why can't PCs recognize .jpg for goodness sakes??) I'm writing up some observatiosn from the photos we took during the study.
General Observations
-Pointing to Laptop screen is much easier because of proximity, but also difficult because of screen size. Pointing with the Map Table is more difficult because of distance table creates between users and the display. However size makes larger gestures more understandable since hand is smaller than display, gesturing is more presice.
-With the Laptop, one person retains control of the mouse/keyboard. A smiliar situation occurs with the Map Table with specific tasks, however in the free-use time changes of control occured much more frequently. Perhaps a free-use of the laptop vs. free-use of the map table would be a more revealing comparison. Directed tasks puts people into "efficiency" mode, when assigning roles such as single control of the puck is more efficient than shared control.
-To see the Laptop, people have to gather closely together, all aiming for the same view of the main person controlling the laptop. This does not occur with the MapTable, since everyone has a clear view of displayed information from where they are standing. However, to reach countries on the other side of the world, they sometimes have to lean across other people or lean on the table, which can obstruct the view of other users. Many people also generally like to lean on the table, which may be a result of table height.
-Users have to lean over in order to see/select small countries. This can obstruct others' views, and also be more of a physical strain on the user if done in repeated use.
-Person who writes sometimes sits down. This could be to make more room for the other users, or also because a more directed/focused task as the ones we gave them requires sitting.
-"Backseat Drivers" in the Laptop use gesture and vocal commands in an effort to control the mouse/keyboard. This is less necessary with the Map Table, however physical gestures are still necessary to show/point out specific content. The distance between the user and the display is too far in the Map Table because the Table is in the way.
Go to the Extended Entry for a group-by-group analysis (which, honestly, is a bit less detailed than this)
1:00
-Pointing to a Laptop screen is easier because of proximity, but also more difficult because of screen size.
-Laptop users all have to lean in (if not initially, then gradually) to see the contents of the screen
-One person retains control of the mouse/keyboard. (Other users remotely control the mouse/keyboard by giving verbal commands or pointing where the mouse should go)
*the initial map-table pictures didn't work, but one thing I did notice was that when people initially pick up the puck, they place it, and then seperately push the button. After a while, people naturally picked it up and used it a bit more like a mouse.
2:00
Map Table
-When lined up in a row, people on the ends have to lean over a lot to reach the other end of the world
-Users have to bend over to select small countries
LapTop
-User got frustrated with using the mouse instead of the trackpad (especially for small motions)
-Have to gather around to see the screen, lean on the table
3:00
LapTop
-Person who writes must go between two small surfaces (their paper and the laptop)
MapTable
-Much easier for everyone to see the large screen (despite place at the table)
-Group gathers around the area of the map instead of the Laptop area. However, map is much larger therefore is easier to gather around (generally)
6:30
MapTable
-People have to bend over a lot in order to see and select countries (especially the small ones)
-Person who writes is sitting down in the back (to make way for those navigating the table)
7:30
MapTable
-People like to lean on the table
-Sometimes people leaning on table interferes with how they see the information
-Distance between table and display is too far for proper gesturing. Not everyone can gesture