Collaborative use of mobile phones for brainstorming

Abstract

Mobile phones have traditionally been utilized for personal and individual use. In this paper we explore shared co-located interactions with mobile phones. We introduce a phone-based application that supports ad hoc brainstorming sessions. The prototype allows a workgroup to create, edit and view virtual mind-map notes on any table surface. The prototype encourages people to use the devices interchangeably and thus engage in social interactions. Evaluations show that participants were able to easily create mind maps and that the prototype supports different strategies in mind-map creation.