Tidebreak

Design the Physical Environment Appropriately

The physical design of a TeamSpot-enabled space should be a comfortable place for team activity. For example, the design should provide:

• Appropriately-sized table(s) for laptop computers and any reference materials
• One or more display screens mounted at sitting height (18-24” above table)
• Whiteboard surface (preferably capturable, and optionally floor-to-ceiling)
• Seating between 1.5x and 5x the screen height for optimal viewing
• Easy access to electrical power outlets

For flexible configurations, there should be enoough room for furniture to be easily reconfigured or stored.

Note, too, that spaces that are aesthetically appealing and incorporate comfortable furnishings will result in higher utilization.

Deploy in Places Where Groups are Already Trying to Work Together

Find where groups already meet to work on joint projects, and use those areas for early TeamSpot deployments. Groups will be more likely to adopt TeamSpot in their work because they will be used to collaborating at these locations,

In particular, anywhere you see the “laptop huddle” (where two or more people crowd around a single computer screen as they work together) is a candidate for TeamSpot.

Place TeamSpot in High-Visibility Locations

Deploy TeamSpot in high-visiblity, high-traffic areas. Then passers-by will see groups working with TeamSpot and help to spread interest by word-of-mouth.

For enclosed rooms, use transparent partitions where possible to make group work visible. Alternately, consider other ways of revealing activity in the space, for instance:

• Large-format posters with pictures of groups using TeamSpot in the room
• Digital signage near the room to show photos, quotes, silent video clips, etc.
• Graphic art that depicts team activity interspersed with user quotes

Ensure that Public Displays are Sized and Mounted Correctly

Mount Public display screens at an above-floor height appropriate for comfortable viewing from a seated position. This means dimension “H” (see diagram) will typically be:

• 4 feet above the floor
• 18-24 inches above the table top

Display screens should be sized to accommodate the largest group that may use a TeamSpot location. Dimension “D” for flat panel display screens will usually be at minimum:

• 37” diagonal for groups of 2-3 people
• 42”-50” diagonal for groups of 2-8 people
• 60”+ diagonal for groups of more than 8 people

Actively Promote TeamSpot Among Potential Users

Orient new users to TeamSpot using a variety of different methods. Tidebreak provides ready-to-use digital orientation materials, including:

• Customizable “getting started” flyers
• Animated screensavers (for TeamSpot Host)
• Printable instructional posters
• Large-format signage graphics

A hybrid approach should combine self-instructional materials as well as in-person training in the early stages of deployment.

• “Tuesday’s with TeamSpot” sessions
• Use the ReadyClient™ to introduce new users

As usage builds, more people will learn about TeamSpot through word-of-mouth.

Develop Training Opportunities for Support Staff as Well as Users

Ensure that support staff are ready to answer questions and help guide new users as they discover TeamSpot. Staff should be taught how to explain the benefits of the technology relative to their different applications:

• Project leaders
• Faculty
• Students

Orientation approaches should be developed to address the different ways each group may use TeamSpot.

Deploy TeamSpot in Places Where Talking is OK

The “culture” of a workspace is an important factor in selecting TeamSpot deployment locations. Consider, for example, noise levels as one cultural charateristic for collaborative spaces. The most successful installations are found in areas where talking is the accepted behavior. Where quiet study is the preferred “rule,” TeamSpot installations are less likely to succeed as groups who meet are liable to be pressured to conform to the accepted norms of behavior.