AWE: A robotic wall and reconfigurable desk supporting working life in a digital society

Abstract

“AWE” is a programmable “Animated Work Environment” supporting everyday human activities, at home, work and school, in an increasingly digital society. AWE features a novel robotic “wall,” three horizontal, reconfigurable work surfaces, and embedded information technologies. The video shows AWE as a digital simulation moving through six standard wall-desk configurations, interspersed with still photos and video clips of people interacting with the physical, full-scale, working prototype. The video also shows AWE beginning to behave intelligently as well as users fine-tuning AWE's configurations by gesturing proximity sensors mounted at the hinges between wall panels. Usability testing suggests that AWE clearly adapts to variations in complex activities involving users working or playing in a single physical space with both physical and digital tools and artifacts.