A Japanese Garden to Support Multi-tasking Hideto Yuzawa Visiting Researcher Corporate Research Group, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Japan

Abstract

Recently, CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperated Work) communities have given much attention to the multi-tasking practices of information workers. In this poster, we report on a prototype designed to help people manage interruptions by indicating their availability for each of their projects. The prototype is designed as a “Japanese Garden” where users can move rocks in a desktop garden, representing their projects, to signal whether they are actively working on that project and thus available for interruptions about it. The prototype was tested in real work environments and in experimental settings. While our tests were first steps, we could find that our system controlled inappropriate interruptions and helped interruptions to occur at a good time.

 

Bio

Hideto Yuzawa works for the Corporate Research Group, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Japan where he conducts research on human behavior using an eyetracker and creates software to support office workers. He is interested in behavior analysis of office workers who have multiple tasks and the development of software for them to work effectively.