# (CL)3 History

(CL)3 began in October 2000 with Campus Life orginally asked the Chair of Computer Science, Charles Van Loan, to develop a lab for inclusion in the forthcoming The Tatkon Center. The Chair passed along the request to David Schwartz and asked that he think of something. Working with Daisy Fan, they conceived of a computer lab suitable CS100 Academic Excellence Workshops (AEWs). In the AEWs, students collaboratively work in groups of two to four students to solve challenging problems that mirror course material. In studying the labs, they realized that traditional furniture does not allow the interaction needed for sharing a computer. So, we developed a configuration composed of shape-shifting, circular tables. After Daisy dropped from the project, Schwartz and then Director of the AEW program, Pat Spencer, continued the development, resulting in Schwartz winning a faculty innovation grant. With the support of the award, my Academic Technologies Center co-designer, Steve Weidner and Schwartz, developed a complete full scale mock up of the lab to test the ergonomics and feasibility of the concept, which we have documented on the (CL)3 website.

Although rejected for the Tatkon Center, Schwartz and Weidner continued to sell the idea via Schwartz's involvement in the Cornell Lab Futures Committee, which provided guidance on the future of public computing at Cornell. Fortunately, Cornell University Libraries heard Schwartz's pitches about collaborative computing, and they negotiated a multi-year deal to build and run the lab in Uris Library with the following goals:

- Provide educational infrastructure that would facilitate collaboration, especially given the centralized location on campus.
- Reduce student stress by offering a collaborative, non-competitive environment. Even choose colors that depart from stereotypical engineering patterns.
- Modernize CUL's "CreationStation" services by expanding hardware and software resources. In essence, create Cornell's first publicly available digital arts lab, which includes scanning, art tablets, music keyboards, and a broad collection of software. Host courses that would utilize library resources.
- Foster research collaborations with Cornell faculty.

Starting in Fall 2003, a team composed of Schwartz, Weider, Cosgrave, and Davies met and collaborated each week to formalize the lab's design, fending off one crisis after another. The final design of the space and tables yielded 1/8-round movable tables with dual monitors and input devices. With wireless networking, a number of power boxes on a raised floor, and backup battery power, students and instructors can move the tables around in minutes to reconfigure the computer classroom. Continuing the work through Spring and Summer, 2004, the lab opened just in time for CIS300. Given Schwartz's involvement in the project, he was to offer CIS300, CIS400, and the CS100 AEWs in (CL)3, effectively creating space for game projects.

Other classes have been taught in the space and have received favorable feedback. After one year of operation and nearly 10K students using the space, the team began two evaluations of the space in collaboration with these Cornell classes on different semesters:

- INFO345: Human-Computer Interaction Design
- DEA470: Human Factors: Applied Ergonomics Methods

Both groups of students evaluated the table use during public and class use and suggested alternative designs, which are included on this website.

(CL)3 has received national attention, especially at the 2005 LabMan conference in which the design team learned that lab managers from around the country have been exploring ways to build collaborative computer areas. In 2007, the team will present the lab at the national libraries conference. They plan to continue studying the concept and planning for the next version.