MIRRORED MESSAGING PLATFORM - DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC DISPLAY SYSTEM TO SUPPORT REAL AND VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

This study aims to design a public display system called Mirrored Messaging Platform as a new communication tool which supports social interaction among larger group members located in the real and the 3D virtual communities. It allows people in the real world and the 3D virtual world to communicate with each other. The Mirrored Messaging Platform has been developed with iterative design process and implemented in the field (Real and virtual campus of the National University of Singapore) for user trials. This study presents 1) the iterative design process of developing the public display system called Mirrored Messaging Platform with user studies (survey and user observation) of respective iterations; 2) the final prototype of Mirrored Messaging Platform that is able to bridge the real and virtual community; and 3) the findings from respective iterations for understanding the use of public display in large group context in both real and 3D virtual communities.