Tech Report HCIL-2001-20

Browne, H., Bederson, B., Plaisant, C., Druin, A. (September 2001)
Designing an Interactive Message Board as a Technology Probe for Family Communication
HCIL-2001-20, CS-TR-4284, UMIACS-TR-2001-63

In this paper, we describe the design issues and technical implementation of an interactive Family Message Board. The Family Message Board enables members of a distributed family to communicate with one another both synchronously and asynchronously via simple, pen-based, digital notes. Each household running this Java-based software can view, create, and manipulate notes in a zoomable space. The Family Message Board will be used as a “technology probe” to help us understand the communication needs of distributed families, and to help us design new devices to meet those needs.