Evaluating design behaviour when using emerging collaboration technologies

The developments in and broad use of computer technologies have brought fundamental changes to the ways in which architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) professionals collaborate and design, partially because the developments in technology achieved the creation of computer tools that are technically and financially feasible to use. Technological developments have not only provided new opportunities and possibilities for design but have also contributed to the complexity of many design processes. In this paper we present an experiment that studies communication between two designers using four different technologies. In addition, their verbal communication activities are compared using protocol analysis. The findings of this study provide a clearer understanding of the implications of working collaboratively in a design team in virtual design contexts. Our studies have shown that designers are able to adapt to different environments, from the traditional face-to-face environment to a variety of virtual environments, and still be able to communicate and collaborate.