EUREKA CELTIC MERCO
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Touchtech AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 404 000 |
| Project duration | March 2014 - February 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Eureka cluster co-funding |
Purpose and goal
We propose DigiMetaplan, a system which employs off-the-shelf devices only and offers a set of interactive digital techniques to aid distributed brainstorming. Our work is inspired by a widespread facilitated brainstorming method called MetaPlan; although some of our techniques go beyond that method. Our system supports various collocated and remote configurations, e.g. 4-0, 3-1, and 2-2, but our focus is on 3-1 distributed teams.
Expected results and effects
The project first studied the needs of the industrial partners. We designed DigiMetaplan a system that specifically supports facilitated brainstorming, both in collocated and remote settings. This system clearly separates facilitators from other participants. The design rationale of the system was derived from the literature and the well-established practices of a representative facilitated brainstorming method called Metaplan. DigiMetaplan is suitable not only for collocated groups, but also effective in supporting remote individuals in distributed brainstorming.
Planned approach and implementation
Through an exploratory user study with five 3-1 groups, we learned about communication and interaction of participants using our system. Our observations and analyses show that although the design of DigiMetaplan can maintain the role separation of facilitator and other participants, remote participants still experienced reduced involvement.