Towards An Ambient Desktop to Promote Workplace Awareness

This paper describes a prototype system that displays synchronous workplace awareness information using the ambient technology paradigm. It focuses on making people aware of the nature and volume of interactions that have taken place within a workgroup. The visualisation uses simple graphics based on a maritime flags metaphor, is displayed in the Windows Active Desktop and is designed to be as nonintrusive as possible. The information used in the visualisation is drawn from a database which stores information about the type and frequency of interactions by the users of the co-operative environment. The system uses lightweight technologies and it should be easy to add features to support delivery of the information to standard client applications, smart boards, PDA’s and mobile phones.