```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FktzNBWre4MTBxGurPRgw2wI7ck93%2F3HaBhc3oNhCFIx22XMp1%2F58727259-a1e0-4982-b7d1-1e04ea46e023.jpg?alt=media&token=e86be247-3c90-4cca-9dd0-b5e5e2729cc9","id":"58727259-a1e0-4982-b7d1-1e04ea46e023","width":3700,"height":2400,"filename":"Frame 3935.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

At Sprout, we aspired to design a cozy, playful, and humane computing medium for people to be together. We built a collaborative information tabletop as the playground to prototype new interface metaphors for multi-player spatial environment.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FktzNBWre4MTBxGurPRgw2wI7ck93%2F3HaBhc3oNhCFIx22XMp1%2F1a863e37-ca9e-4c5c-b0dd-203d7c62c466.mp4?alt=media&token=750a4728-2f71-4118-b2ea-901b8fd9be6a","id":"1a863e37-ca9e-4c5c-b0dd-203d7c62c466","width":1800,"height":1080,"filename":"S1 Super Compressed.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

We aimed to build an inherently collaborative medium, instead of slapping a feature layer on top of personal computing paradigms. This starts with syncing interaction states across all building blocks in the environment so that people can share one slate of attention with each other.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FktzNBWre4MTBxGurPRgw2wI7ck93%2F3HaBhc3oNhCFIx22XMp1%2F277b1ef1-1d6f-48be-8c2c-bc98e72a2abf.mp4?alt=media&token=317a676c-fec5-4bdf-88e6-f0dae5737ea0","id":"277b1ef1-1d6f-48be-8c2c-bc98e72a2abf","width":1800,"height":1080,"filename":"S2 Super Compressed.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Cursor is an essential form of rich presence that indicates people’s location and focus. The space itself is permission-less by default to foster a sense of trust and intimacy, just like a studio where makers sit together without barriers between.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FktzNBWre4MTBxGurPRgw2wI7ck93%2F3HaBhc3oNhCFIx22XMp1%2Fade0bf3d-19b7-478f-85de-829ef2434355.mp4?alt=media&token=2b6f6093-b2f0-4a11-8ce4-9aba5547bf47","id":"ade0bf3d-19b7-478f-85de-829ef2434355","width":1800,"height":1080,"filename":"S3 Super Compressed.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

When we recenter the focal point of the interface from viewports to people’s cursors, we can contextualize cursor movement as a form of digital body language. It helps us build better shared understanding through unspoken context, i.e. how close people are to the exit.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FktzNBWre4MTBxGurPRgw2wI7ck93%2F3HaBhc3oNhCFIx22XMp1%2F27c3b035-e4a8-455e-8776-3d62ad674669.mp4?alt=media&token=7c595c86-dacf-4280-8edc-c23141dc3058","id":"27c3b035-e4a8-455e-8776-3d62ad674669","width":1800,"height":1080,"filename":"S5 Super Compressed.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Our social presence is more nuanced than being inside or outside. The space should retain such nuance as people transition between this gradient of presence. We can pull out our phone for a quick search during a conversation without getting kicked out.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FktzNBWre4MTBxGurPRgw2wI7ck93%2F3HaBhc3oNhCFIx22XMp1%2Ff3429f77-e285-41e4-9bd0-e786fb08cc27.mp4?alt=media&token=a4746cca-e8a0-463b-ac41-7ceb669ac4b6","id":"f3429f77-e285-41e4-9bd0-e786fb08cc27","width":1800,"height":1080,"filename":"S4 Super Compressed.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Viewport indicators and cursors hanging at the edge of screen gently inform where people are in peripheral vision. These subtle way-finding cues and digital gestures like pinging are built for canvas environment to add rich context and playful expressions.

Prototyping collaborative computing medium at Sprout

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Give ideas more space with Jambot

Surf the web like it’s 1999 with these old-school cursors

Prototyping a cozy, playful, and humane computing medium for co-existence.

Sprout

A new way to interact with ChatGPT: visual, non-linear, multi-player.

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A collection of system and interaction concepts for personal knowledge management tools.

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Aosheng Ran

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