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

Video Signal

X,YPen/Eraser/MouseMouse Up/DownDouble-click

Access Grid Node:Video / Audio

Top Ten Problems (Tested using low bandwidth)

1. Shadows. Need rear-projection screens.

2. Netmeeting/Messenger is platform-specific. (Webex.com is promising, but not free).

3. Audio Feedback Problems. Echo Cancellation / audio testing ahead of time.

4. Voice-Over-IP Latency/Lag. Faster network.

5. Security (Firewall) prevented collaboration. Needed to establish a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN)

6. 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.

7. Body language/gestures not transmitted. Video/Avatar/Telepresence.

8. Bandwidth limitations (animations/video). See #4.

9. Lack of familiarity. Introduce technology ahead of time.

10. Glare (Hotspot) from projector. See #1..

Top Ten Successes

1. Effective Discussion/Reviews

2. Technology Disappeared

3. Intuitive Interface1. Student stands next to artifact2. Student interacts directly with

artifact

4. Voice and graphics synchronized

5. Non-destructive sketching a boon

6. Students did not need to prepare more for a distributed review

7. SmartBoard worked for both co-located and distributed reviews

8. Set up is portable/moveable

9. Cost-effective, saves air travel costs.

10. Time zone difference was advantageous

The Ten Commandments

1. Start Early / Plan Ahead

2. Test. Test. Test.

3. Know Thy Neighbor

4. Use Back-Channel Diplomacy

5. Adjust Expectations

6. Keep it Cozy

7. Know Thy Software

8. Encourage Symmetry

9. Use Big Pipes

10. Have a Plan B … and C (aka Graceful Degradation)