"Can we work this out?" : An evaluation of remote collaborative interaction in a mobile shared environment

We describe a novel dynamic method for collaborative virtual environments designed for mobile devices and evaluated in a mobile context. Participants interacted in pairs remotely and through touch while walking in three different feedback conditions: 1) visual, 2) audio-tactile, 3) spatial audio-tactile. Results showed the visual baseline system provided higher shared awareness, efficiency and a strong learning effect. However, and although very challenging, the eyes-free systems still offered the ability to build joint awareness in remote collaborative environments, particularly the spatial audio one. These results help us better understand the potential of different feedback mechanisms in the design of future mobile collaborative environments.