title: Ubiquitous computing to support co-located clinical teams: using the semiotics of physical objects in system design.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Co-located teams often use material objects to communicate messages in collaboration. Modern desktop computing systems with abstract graphical user interface (GUIs) fail to support this material dimension of inter-personal communication. The aim of this study is to investigate how tangible user interfaces can be used in computer systems to better support collaborative routines among co-located clinical teams.
  
  
  METHODS
  The semiotics of physical objects used in team collaboration was analyzed from data collected during 1 month of observations at an emergency room. The resulting set of communication patterns was used as a framework when designing an experimental system. Following the principles of augmented reality, physical objects were mapped into a physical user interface with the goal of maintaining the symbolic value of those objects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NOSTOS is an experimental ubiquitous computing environment that takes advantage of interaction devices integrated into the traditional clinical environment, including digital pens, walk-up displays, and a digital desk. The design uses familiar workplace tools to function as user interfaces to the computer in order to exploit established cognitive and collaborative routines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paper-based tangible user interfaces and digital desks are promising technologies for co-located clinical teams. A key issue that needs to be solved before employing such solutions in practice is associated with limited feedback from the passive paper interfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. magba@ida.liu.se
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Toomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Timpka
mesh_terms: D016287:Computer Peripherals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D019370:Observation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D014584:User-Computer Interface