Let’s talk about technology for peace: A systematic assessment of problem-based group collaboration around an interactive tabletop. Interacting with Computers

This work is concerned with the exploration of ideas in the realm of technology for peace, produced by small groups of students working around an interactive tabletop. A collaboration-enforcing tabletop application was used to mediate dialog and collaborative construction of a taxonomy of ideas based on the participants ’ consensus. The scenarios for discussion concerned the promotion of global peace and the social integration of immigrants in the society. The participants ’ dialog and interactions were video-recorded and analyzed. The study contributes a systematically developed coding scheme capturing the cognitive and physical elements of problem-based group collaboration around the interactive tabletop.Also, the consistent themes and ideas contributed across the participating groups highlight a number of areas where research could focus in terms of using technology for peace. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS • We focus on ideas in the realm of technology for peace, which is a domain of interest but rarely addressed in the field. • We use multi-touch tabletop technology as a means for promoting dialog and collaboration on a group artifact. • We conduct a systematic video analysis of interactions and present a coding scheme of problem-based group collaboration around an interactive tabletop. • The themes and ideas contributed across the participating groups highlight areas for research in the realm of technology for peace