Do (not) sketch into my sketch A comparison of existing tools Kateřina Nováková 1 , Henri Achten 2 1,2 FA CVUT Prague 1,2 www.molab.eu 1,2 {bruhokat|achten}@fa.cvut.cz Various computer-aided sketch tools can be used to support architectural designing (Tang, Lee, Gero, 2010) either individually in early stage of the process or in communication. We focus on the second mentioned. The goal of this paper is to give an overview of possible applications and mention the platforms which are supported. We explore the advantages or disadvantages of the tools and compare it with our newly developed application called ColLab sketch. With this application we hope in increasing speed and ease of graphic communication on one hand and testing architects demands on the other hand. We develop multiple criteria for evaluating the tools, while believing this paper could be of use to give a hint how to improve remote as well as co-located collaborative designing by sketch. Architectural designing is a very sensitive topic when it comes to sketching. Finally, we would like to compare the newly developed tool to this list and suggest improvements or experiments that help its finalizing. Keywords: sketching, collaboration, electronic devices, sketch applications INTRODUCTION Computer-aided sketch tools can be used to sup- port collaborative architectural designing (Tang, Lee, Gero, 2010) and architectural communication by sketch. In this paper we would like to present an overview of few possible applications and mention the tested supported platforms. We explore the tools, which might be of a significant importance and compare it with our newly developed application called ColLab sketch. With this application we hope in increasing speed and ease of graphic communica- tion. We also want to show the tool can be modified according to the constantly changing needs of archi- tects. This paper also shows criteria for evaluating the tools. We believe the comparison could be of use to improve remote as well as co-located collaborative designing by sketch in architectural designing. PREVIOUS RESEARCH Architectural designing is a very sensitive topic when it comes to sketching. Previous research (Gold- schmitt, Ullmann) showed that sketching plays an important role in the early stage of designing. It is also inevitable by architects cooperation and teach- ing (Cheng and Lane-Cumming, 2004) and last but not least it significantly supports communication. Collaboration and Participation - Volume 2 - eCAADe 32 | 237