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226 Lorna Heaton

Figure 1
Clearboard

Several technical problems present in ClearBoard-1 (low video
resolution, forcing the use of thick markers which quickly used up the
drawing space, and the inability to alter the partner’s drawing in
shared video drawing) were resolved in ClearBoard-2, an extension of
the same idea but this time using computers. Multi-user drawing
software and digitizer pens were used to permit the direct recording
of work by any number of users simultaneously. This also allowed the
integration of computer files into the system, and enabled the results
of design sessions to be saved as PICT files. Finally, the ClearBoard-
2 design led to some reflections on interpersonal distance:

ClearBoard creates the impression of participants standing
about one meter apart, because both sit (or stand) close
enough to the screen to draw directly on its surface. This vir-
tual distance belongs to the personal distance in Hall’s clas-
sification. When people use ClearBoard with close friends or
colleagues, this distance seems appropriate. However, for a
formal meeting with a person of much higher rank, this vir-
tual interpersonal distance might seem too small, and the