Multimodal collaborative activity among architectural designers using an augmented desktop at distance or in collocation

Motivation - To analyse how Augmented Reality associated to video may affect collaborative design and multimodal interactions. Research approach - An exploratory study that aims to compare 2 pairs of last year students in co-presence with 1 distant pair. Each pair had to solve an architectural design problem. Collected video has been coded with a systematic method of protocol analysis. Findings/Design - When using an AR desktop-based CAD, distance may not affect the design process itself whereas it may affect how the process is distributed across the various modalities of collaboration. Furthermore, collaborating and architectural experiences influence collaboration and/or design. Research limitations/Implications - Only 3 pairs of students participated in the study resulting in 12 h of video protocol, which limits generalisation of the findings. Originality/Value - The research makes a contribution in providing a detailed view on how external (e.g. situation, technology) and individual factors may affect the activity of collaborative design. Furthermore, we propose a coding method usable beyond design in a wide range of collaborative activities to underline how they are affected by technology and other situational constraints. Take away message - Technology constraints as well as personnal characteristics of designers result in designing with specific forms of multimodal collaboration.