Exploring Quantitative Methods to Study Design Behavior in Collaborative Virtual Workspaces

This paper presents a case of exploring and applying quantitative tools to examine design protocol in a collaborative virtual environment. After introducing the motivation, a design ontology along with two methods of analysis are depicted as a foundation for this investigation. The case data of a virtual design session is presented which has been examined together with its counterpart face-to-face design session that act as a base-line. In this case the 3D virtual environment slows down the design activities and it also has an inclination to favor certain design activities.