why GroupSpace & TeamSpot is so cool

Why should you use TeamSpot? We can do this one of two ways: benefits or features. Hm. Let's look at it both ways.

Benefits

So TeamSpot has a lot of tools. Nice. So what does it mean? How will TeamSpot make collaboration better?

TeamSpot is faster. If you want to get together, look at a single big screen, share some files, edit collaboratively and dynamically, TeamSpot is a lot faster than using a combination of IM, e-mail, FTP, network storage space, and USB flash drives. And looking at a 23" or 42" display is easier than hunching over someone's shoulder.

Version control. Doesn't sound exciting, but think about the last time you worked on a team project. Did you end up e-mailing a document around and around? If so, then you probably also ended up with a mess of different versions floating around. With TeamSpot, you work on a single copy, save it, then warp it back down to everyone. You're all on the same page.

Independent and group work. Each team member can work on his or her laptop, then push items to the public display only when ready. This means that a group can be researching, editing, writing, and designing all at the same time.

Space and furniture. Having a big table with comfortable, flexible chairs in a space dedicated to collaborative work means that it's okay to talk, be loud, and debate things. There has to be a place where a team can do that.

Whiteboards, projection equipment, etc. Meyer Library already has a large whiteboard in place which allows teams to work in a more free-form manner. Eventually, the GroupSpace project aims to add whiteboards and perhaps even projection equipment and other tools to all the locations.

GroupSpace is as little or as much as you want. Do you just want a place to meet? Perhaps all you want is the equivalent of a big monitor with just one person "driving" it? Or, perhaps, you and your teammates are ready for a dynamic, back and forth interactive collaboration session. GroupSpace can be any of those.

GroupSpace is group time. When you and your team is working in GroupSpace, you ensure equal contribution from all members. Combining all of these benefits means that you can get more done by the entire team in less time. And you probably end up with a better product, too.

Features

Take Control with PointRight
PointRight technology allows a connected user to "take control" of the shared display from his/her laptop. Just push your pointer off the top of your screen and it'll appear on the shared display. If you're in Meyer Library, move your mouse to the right and it'll appear on the 2nd shared display. You now have full control of the screen, as if you were using a mouse directly connected to it.

Transfer files and URLs with CrossWarp
TeamSpot also makes it easy to transfer files from your laptop to the host computer, or even with other connected users with CrossWarp. When you're connected, you'll see the TeamSpot Control Panel in the upper right of your screen:

TeamSpot Control Panel

Drag a file or a URL onto the CrossWarp button. It will expand to a list of connected users, including the shared displays.

Copy and paste text and images with CrossPaste
Highlight some text or an image on your laptop. Hit copy. Move your mouse up to the shared display. Hit Paste. There you go.

Electronic Whiteboard? You mean Annotate!
Annotate allows you to "freeze" the screen on a shared display and use "pens" to mark-up the screen.

Note that Annotate does not currently allow saving of the marked-up page. This will be a future feature.

Now, what did we do again? Good thing we have Action Archive
The Action Archive is a simple log of what has occured in the session. This includes files that have been CrossWarped. Click "Show" from the Action Archive button on the Control Panel (upper left button). You can save the Action Archive with the "Save" option.

You can also add comments to the Action Archive. This is done via the "Abc" button on the Control Panel