Learning Environment

• US 20090000228A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Barnhart, Julie, Curtis, Jennifer Alexandra, Valoe, Elise, Barton, Heather
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/235
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/08 Hospitals, infirmaries, or the like; Schools; Prisons

Abstract

A learning environment having a plurality of tables and a plurality of technology display devices distributed about the environment for use by occupants of the learning environment, the environment including a central area, the learning environment comprising at least first, second and third technology display devices that include first, second and third substantially flat display surfaces, respectively, for displaying information to occupants in the environment, the first, second and third displays supported in spaced radial relationship about the environment with the flat display surfaces substantially facing the central area, and at least first, second and third elongated tables that have first, second and third elongation axis, respectively, the tables arranged in spaced radial orientations around the environment with the elongation axis substantially extending toward the central area and so that open spaces are formed between adjacent tables for standing occupants, wherein the second and third elongation axis form angles with the second and third display surfaces in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

Claims

1. A learning environment having a plurality of tables and a plurality of technology display devices distributed about the environment for use by occupants of the learning environment, the environment including a central area, the learning environment comprising:

a) at least first, second and third technology display devices that include first, second and third substantially flat display surfaces, respectively, for displaying information to occupants in the environment, the first, second and third displays supported in spaced radial relationship about the environment with the flat display surfaces substantially facing the central area; and

b) at least first, second and third elongated tables that have first, second and third elongation axis, respectively, the tables arranged in spaced radial orientations around the environment with the elongation axis substantially extending toward the central area and so that open spaces are formed between adjacent tables for standing occupants, wherein the second and third elongation axis form angles with the second and third display surfaces in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

2. The environment of claim 1 wherein the first elongated axis forms an angle with the first display surface that is in the range of between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

3. The environment of claim 2 wherein the angles between the first, second and third elongation axis and the first, second and third display surfaces are approximately ninety degrees.

4. The environment of claim 1 wherein first, second and third display trajectories are perpendicular to the first, second and third display surfaces, respectively, and wherein the first, second and third displays are supported at the corners of a triangle within the environment so that the first and second display trajectories form an angle between the range of 100 and 130 degrees, the second and third display trajectories form an angle between the range of 100 and 130 degrees and wherein the third and first display trajectories form an angle between the range of 100 and 130 degrees.

5. The environment of claim 1 wherein each of the angles between the first and second display trajectories, the second and third display trajectories and the third and first display trajectories is substantially 120 degrees.

6. The environment of claim 4 wherein the first table is positioned with the first elongation axis forming an angle between zero degrees and 20 degrees with the third elongation axis, the environment further including a fourth table having a fourth elongation axis, the fourth table positioned so that the fourth elongation axis forms an angle between zero degrees and 20 degrees with the second elongation axis.

7. The environment of claim 6 wherein the first and third elongation axis are substantially parallel and wherein the second and fourth elongation axis are substantially parallel.

8. The environment of claim 7 wherein the first elongation axis forms an angle with the second elongation axis in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

9. The environment of claim 6 further including a switcher and first, second, third and fourth floor boxes, each floor box including a video port for linking to a source device, each video port linked to the switcher, the switcher including separate outputs for each of the display devices for selectively linking the video ports to the display devices, the first, second, third and fourth floor boxes located within the environment proximate the first, second, third and fourth tables for linking source devices at the first, second, third and fourth tables to the first, second and third display devices.

10. The environment of claim 1 further including a fourth technology display device supported in spaced radial relationship about the environment and with respect to the first through third display devices, the fourth display device having a fourth substantially flat display surface that substantially faces the central area.

11. The environment of claim 10 wherein the first and third display surfaces substantially face each other and wherein the second and fourth display surfaces substantially face each other.

12. The environment of claim 10 wherein first, second, third and fourth display trajectories are perpendicular to the first, second, third and fourth display surfaces, respectively, and wherein the first and second display trajectories form an angle between the range of 75 and 105 degrees, the second and third display trajectories form an angle between the range of 75 and 105 degrees, the third and fourth display trajectories form an angle between the range of 75 and 105 degrees and the fourth and first display trajectories form an angle within the range between 75 and 105 degrees.

13. The environment of claim 12 further including a fourth table having a fourth elongation axis, wherein the first and fourth elongation axis form angles with the first and fourth display surfaces in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

14. The environment of claim 13 wherein the wherein the first, second, third and fourth elongation axis form substantially ninety degree angles with the first, second, third and fourth display surfaces, respectively.

15. The environment of claim 1 wherein the environment resides within a rectangular space having first, second, third and fourth corners and first, second, third and fourth boundaries between the first and second corners, the second and third corners, the third and fourth corners and the fourth and first corners, respectively, the second and third display devices supported at the second and third corners, respectively.

16. The environment of claim 15 wherein the first display device is supported substantially midway along the fourth boundary.

17. The environment of claim 16 further including first and second whiteboards supported substantially midway along the first and third boundaries, respectively.

18. The environment of claim 17 wherein each of the first and second whiteboards includes a substantially flat whiteboard surface that has height and width dimensions of at least four feet and at least five feet, respectively.

19. The environment of claim 17 further including first and second cameras supported adjacent the first and second whiteboard surfaces for capturing images of information applied to the whiteboard surfaces.

20. The environment of claim 15 wherein the first, second, third and fourth boundaries have first, second, third and fourth boundary length dimensions that are less than forty-five feet, respectively.

21. The environment of claim 20 wherein the first, second, third and fourth boundary length dimensions are less than 35 feet.

22. The environment of claim 21 wherein each of the display surfaces has height and width dimensions of at least three feet and at least four feet, respectively.

23. The environment of claim 21 wherein each of the display surfaces has height and width dimensions of substantially four feet and substantially five feet, respectively.

24. The environment of claim 21 wherein the first, second and third tables have first, second and third table length dimensions and wherein each of the table length dimensions is at least six feet.

25. The environment of claim 24 wherein each of the table length dimensions is substantially eight feet.

26. The environment of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third display devices include first, second and third projectors that project images onto the first, second and third display surfaces, respectively.

27. The environment of claim 26 wherein at least one of the display devices further includes an interactive whiteboard that forms the display surface.

28. The environment of claim 27 wherein the second and third display devices includes first and second interactive whiteboards, respectively.

64. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of providing the second and third display devices includes the step of providing first and second interactive whiteboards, respectively.

29. A learning environment located within a space wherein the space has first, second, third and fourth corners and first, second, third and fourth boundaries between the first and second corners, the second and third corners, the third and fourth corners and the fourth and first corners, respectively, the space including first and second substantially equally sized lateral rectangular space areas adjacent the first and third boundaries, respectively, and also including a central area, the environment comprising:

first and second elongated tables that have first and second table length dimensions, respectively; and

first, second and third image presentation devices that include substantially flat first, second and third presentation surfaces, respectively;

the first and second tables positioned in the first and second lateral areas so that the first and second table length dimensions are aligned with first and second table trajectories that form angels with adjacent boundaries that are within a range of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees;

the first presentation device is supported along the first boundary substantially midway between the first and fourth corners with the first presentation surface generally facing the central area;

the second presentation device is supported proximate the second corner with the second presentation surface forming an angle between 75 and 90 degrees with the first table trajectory; and

the third presentation device is supported proximate the third corner with the third presentation surface forming an angle between 75 and 90 degrees with the second table trajectory.

30. The environment of claim 29 wherein the first lateral area include first and second corner areas adjacent the first and second corners, respectively, the second lateral area include third and fourth corner areas adjacent the third and fourth corners, respectively, the first and second tables are positioned within the second and third corner areas, respectively, the environment further including at least a third table that includes a third table length dimension wherein the third table is positioned in at least one of the first and fourth corner areas and so that the third table length dimension is aligned with a third table trajectory.

31. The environment of claim 30 wherein each of the boundaries is less than 45 feet.

32. The environment of claim 30 wherein each of the boundaries is less than 35 feet.

33. The environment of claim 32 wherein each of the first and fourth boundaries has a similar length dimension and wherein the first boundary is substantially 30 feet.

34. The environment of claim 32 wherein the presentation devices have height and width dimensions of at least three feet and four feet, respectively.

35. The environment of claim 32 wherein the presentation devices have height and width dimensions of substantially four feet and substantially five feet, respectively.

36. The environment of claim 30 wherein the tables have table length dimensions that are substantially eight feet.

37. The environment of claim 30 wherein the third table is positioned within the first corner area, the environment further including a fourth elongated table that has a fourth table length dimension and that is positioned in the fourth corner area.

38. The environment of claim 37 wherein the first, second, third and fourth table trajectories form angels with adjacent boundaries that are substantially 45 degrees.

39. The environment of claim 30 wherein the second presentation surface forms angles with each of the first and second boundaries that are between 30 and 60 degrees and wherein the third presentation surface forms angles with each of the second and third boundaries that are between 30 and 60 degrees.

40. The environment of claim 39 wherein the angles formed between the second presentation surface and the first and second boundaries and the angles formed between the third presentation surface and the second and third boundaries are substantially 45 degrees.

41. The environment of claim 30 wherein the first, second and third presentation devices include first, second and third projectors that project images onto the first, second and third presentation surfaces, respectively.

42. The environment of claim 40 wherein the second and third presentation devices include first and second interactive whiteboards where the first and second whiteboards form the second and third presentation surfaces, respectively.

43. A method for arranging a learning environment having a plurality of tables and a plurality of technology display devices distributed about the environment for use by occupants of the learning environment, the environment including a central area, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least first, second and third technology display devices that include first, second and third substantially flat display surfaces, respectively, for displaying information to occupants in the environment;

providing at least first, second and third elongated tables that have first, second and third elongation axis, respectively;

positioning the first, second and third displays in spaced radial relationship about the environment with the flat display surfaces substantially facing the central area; and

positioning the tables in spaced radial orientations around the environment with the first, second and third elongation axis substantially extending toward the central area and so that open spaces are formed between adjacent tables for standing occupants, wherein the second and third elongation axis form angles with the second and third display surfaces in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees, respectively.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the first elongated axis forms an angle with the first display surface that is in the range of between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the angles between the first, second and third elongation axis and the first, second and third display surfaces are approximately 90 degrees.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein first, second and third display trajectories are perpendicular to the first, second and third display surfaces, respectively, and wherein the steps of positioning the display devices includes the step of supporting the first, second and third display devices at the corners of a triangle within the environment so that the first and second display trajectories form an angle between the range of 100 and 130 degrees, the second and third display trajectories form an angle between the range of 100 and 130 degrees and wherein the third and first display trajectories form an angle between the range of 100 and 130 degrees.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein each of the angles between the first and second display trajectories, the second and third display trajectories and the third and first display trajectories is substantially 120 degrees.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of positioning the first table includes positioning the first table so that the first elongation axis forms an angle between zero degrees and 20 degrees with the third elongation axis, the method including the steps of providing a fourth table having a fourth elongation axis and positioning the fourth table so that the fourth elongation axis forms an angle between zero degrees and 20 degrees with the second elongation axis.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the first and third elongation axis are substantially parallel and wherein the second and fourth elongation axis are substantially parallel.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the first elongation axis forms an angle with the second elongation axis in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

51. The method of claim 48 further including the steps of providing a switcher and first, second, third and fourth floor boxes, each floor box including a video port for linking to a source device, positioning the first, second, third and fourth floor boxes within the environment proximate the first, second, third and fourth tables, respectively, linking each video port to the switcher, the switcher including separate outputs for each of the display devices for selectively linking the video ports to the display devices.

52. The method of claim 43 further including the steps of providing a fourth technology display device that includes a fourth substantially flat display surface and positioning the fourth display device in spaced radial relationship about the environment and with respect to the first through third display devices so that the fourth display surface substantially faces the central area.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the steps of positioning first and third display devices and positioning the second and fourth display devices include positioning the first and third display devices so that the first and third display surfaces substantially face each other and positioning the second and fourth display devices so that the second and fourth display surface substantially face each other.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of positioning the first table includes positioning the first table so that the first elongation axis forms an angle with the first display surface in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees, the method further including the steps of providing a fourth table having a fourth elongation axis and positioning the fourth table so that the fourth elongation axis forms an angle with the fourth display surface in the range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the wherein the first, second, third and fourth elongation axis form substantially ninety degree angles with the first, second, third and fourth display surfaces, respectively.

56. The method of claim 43 wherein the environment resides within a rectangular space having first, second, third and fourth corners and first, second, third and fourth boundaries between the first and second corners, the second and third corners, the third and fourth corners and the fourth and first corners, respectively, the steps of positioning the second and third display devices including positioning the second and third display devices at the second and third corners, respectively.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the step of positioning the first display devices includes positioning the first display device substantially midway along the fourth boundary.

58. The method of claim 57 further including the steps of providing first and second whiteboards and supporting the first and second whiteboards substantially midway along the first and third boundaries, respectively.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the first, second, third and fourth boundaries have first, second, third and fourth boundary length dimensions that are less than forty-five feet, respectively.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the first, second, third and fourth boundary length dimensions are less than 35 feet.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein each of the display surfaces has height and width dimensions of at least three feet and at least four feet, respectively.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the first, second and third tables have first, second and third table length dimensions and wherein each of the table length dimensions is at least six feet.

63. The method of claim 43 wherein the step of providing display devices includes the step of providing first, second and third projectors that project images onto the first, second and third display surfaces, respectively.

65. A method for arranging a learning environment having a plurality of tables and a plurality of technology display devices distributed about the environment for use by occupants of the learning environment, the environment including a space wherein the space has first, second, third and fourth corners and first, second, third and fourth boundaries between the first and second corners, the second and third corners, the third and fourth corners and the fourth and first corners, respectively, the space including first and second substantially equally sized rectangular space lateral areas adjacent the first and third boundaries, respectively, and also including a central area, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first and second elongated tables that have first and second table length dimensions, respectively;

providing first, second and third image presentation devices that include substantially flat first, second and third presentation surfaces, respectively;

positioning the first and second tables in the second and third corner areas so that the first and second table length dimensions are aligned with first and second table trajectories that form angels with adjacent boundaries that are within a range of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees;

positioning the first presentation device along the first boundary substantially midway between the first and fourth corners with the first presentation surface generally facing the central area;

positioning the second presentation device proximate the second corner with the second presentation surface forming an angle with the first table trajectory of between 75 and 90 degrees; and

positioning the third presentation device proximate the third corner with the third presentation surface forming an angle with the second table trajectory of between 75 and 90 degrees.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the first lateral area include first and second corner areas adjacent the first and second corners, respectively, the second lateral area include third and fourth corner areas adjacent the third and fourth corners, respectively, the step of positioning the first and second tables including positioning the first and second tables within the second and third corner areas, respectively, the environment further including at least a third table that includes a third table length dimension wherein the third table is positioned in at least one of the first and fourth corner areas and so that the third table length dimension is aligned with a third table trajectory.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein each of the boundaries is less than 45 feet.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein each of the boundaries is less than 35 feet.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein each of the first and fourth boundaries has a similar length dimension and wherein the first boundary is substantially 30 feet.

70. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of providing presentation devices includes providing presentation devices that have height and width dimensions of at least three feet and four feet, respectively.

71. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of providing presentation devices includes providing presentation devices that have height and width dimensions of substantially four feet and substantially five feet, respectively.

72. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of providing tables includes providing tables that have table length dimensions that are substantially eight feet.

73. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of positioning the first table includes positioning the first table within the first corner area, the method further including the steps of providing a fourth elongated table that has a fourth table length dimension and positioning the fourth table in the fourth corner area.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the step of positioning the tables includes positioning the tables so that the first, second, third and fourth table trajectories form angels with adjacent boundaries that are substantially 45 degrees.

75. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of positioning the second presentation device includes positioning the second presentation device so that the second presentation surface forms angles with each of the first and second boundaries that are between 30 and 60 degrees and wherein the step of positioning the third presentation device includes positioning the third presentation device so that third presentation surface forms angles with each of the second and third boundaries that are between 30 and 60 degrees.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the angles formed between the second presentation surface and the first and second boundaries and the angles formed between the third presentation surface and the second and third boundaries are substantially 45 degrees.

77. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of providing presentation devices includes providing first, second and third projectors that project images onto the first, second and third presentation surfaces, respectively.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein the step of providing second and third presentation devices further includes providing first and second interactive whiteboards where the first and second whiteboards form the second and third presentation surfaces, respectively.

79. A learning environment having a plurality of tables and a plurality of technology display devices distributed about the environment for use by occupants of the learning environment, the environment including a central area, the learning environment comprising:

first, second and third technology display devices that include first, second and third substantially flat display surfaces, respectively, for displaying information to occupants in the environment, first, second and third display trajectories substantially p[perpendicular to the first, second and third display surfaces, respectively, the first, second and third displays supported at the corners of a triangle in spaced radial relationship about the environment with the flat display surfaces substantially facing the central area so that the first and second display trajectories, the second and third display trajectories and the third and first display trajectories form angles within a range between 100 and 140 degrees; and

first, second, third and fourth elongated tables that have first, second, third and fourth elongation axis, respectively, the tables arranged in spaced radial orientations around the environment with the elongation axis substantially extending toward the central area and so that open spaces are formed between adjacent tables for standing occupants, wherein the second and third elongation axis form angles with the second and third display surfaces in a range between seventy-five and ninety degrees.