Tidebreak

Tidebreak’s TeamSpot software activates physical environments where teams can “touch down” to work collaboratively with digital resources. TeamSpot enhances team interaction, enabling better use of laptop computers in group situations, allowing people to work in parallel as they work together. This can increase their involvement in authoring reports, developing presentations, and researching information online. TeamSpot supports peer learning, allowing students to explore, interact, and produce more effectively.

The diagram below shows a typical TeamSpot. The centerpiece is typically a large display, driven by an attached computer running the TeamSpot software.

A. Large “Public” Display Screen

A key to group collaboration is a common view of shared information. In TeamSpots, a large screen – a plasma screen or projector is commonly used– is driven by the Host computer. Users can control this computer directly as a digital work area, without requiring any specialized cables. (Note that Tidebreak does not sell hardware components; we provide the TeamSpot software that enables the interaction with the large display and peer laptops within the "spot".)

B. Host Server Computer

The heart of the TeamSpot system, the Host server provides the advanced ubiquitous computing infrastructure that manages interaction within the “spot,” and drives the large display screen. The host is typically a standard PC or Macintosh computer that contains the TeamSpot host software as well as common software applications.

C. Client Computers

These are the user’s own laptop or tablet computers. After downloading the Client software from the Host computer via a web interface, users can control the Host, share files, URLs and text with others, and keep an active record of the Team’s activities. They can use their computers privately while still interacting with the rest of the group and the Host computer.

D. Local Network

A TeamSpot installation may be connected via a private local area network or simply be part of the overall site network. For maximum user convenience, many Tidebreak customers use a wireless network for the Clients.