Designing for Context: Usability in a Ubiquitous Environment

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Designing for Context Usability in a Ubiquitous
Environment

• Jenna Burrell, Paul Treadwell, Geri K. Gay
• Human Computer Interaction Group
• Cornell University

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Context-Aware Computing

• Ubiquitous Computing
• Mobile Wireless Computing
• Context-Aware Computing
• Computing devices can gather information about
  the users external physical environment
  (location, whos around, identity, date and time,
  activity) and use it to provide the user with
  relevant information or actions.
• Mobile devices are an ideal testbed because they
  are used in a wide variety of environments
  (grocery store, outside, bus stops, conference
  rooms, etc.).

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Previous Research

• Tourist Guides Navigation Systems
• Disney World Pascoe, 1997
• Atlanta Abowd et a., 1997
• Exhibits Sumi et al, 1998
• Office Awareness Systems
• User Tracking Xerox Parctab
• Tagging Systems
• Fieldwork data collection Pascoe
• Stick-e notes Pascoe

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Social Navigation

• the process of using cues from other people to
  help you find information and potentially to more
  fully understand what it is you have found
  Wexelblat, 1998.
• History users may interact with information and
  environments at different times, but computers
  can record these interactions for other users to
  benefit from later on.

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Our Research

• Previous research has focused largely on
  technical issues, how to implement context-aware
  systems, defining the space, terminology
  definition, etc.
• Our goal is not only to implement a context-aware
  system but to involve users both in the design
  and evaluation of such a system.
• Want to look at questions such as
• What are the usability issues in a changing
  environment?
• What scenarios do users envision for a
  context-aware system?
• How do users think about context (specifically
  location)?
• What info do users associate with locations?
• Do users benefit from the information others
  associate with that context?

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Early Studies

• Mobile Computing in a Library
• Students and staff used a mobile device prototype
  to get information about library resources from
  any point within the library.
• Prototype included location-awareness, library
  catalog, and real-time chat.
• Participatory Design Session
• Group of wireless laptop users were asked, what
  if your laptop could figure out where you were on
  campus? brainstormed with drawing and text on
  large sheets of paper.
• Ideas guided tours of campus, event information
  to increase awareness and involvement of
  students, access to information about artists in
  a studio art class, tracking users and privacy
  issues, IM system with user proximity
  information.

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Tools Built Semaphore

• Users associate files and web pages with
  locations
• Divided into default (anyone at that location can
  view the information) and Personal (viewable only
  by user) folders.

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Tools Built Graffiti

• Text notes are attached to locations.
• Users can create notes and attach them to any
  campus location.
• Users can read notes posted at their current
  location.

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Tools Built tracking use

• Logging mechanism was built into both
  applications for evaluation of use.
• Log when people checked for notes
• Log notes they wrote
• Log where they were
• Log when and where they deleted notes

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Graffiti user study

• Graffiti was installed by 50 undergrads who were
  part of a research study and had wireless laptops
• We posted notes to encourage students to think
  about different ways to use it
• Building info (history, hours, facilities,
  services)
• Event info (by building, by user pop.)
• Class related info (relevant URLs)
• Location related discussions (dining hall food,
  movies)

• Evaluation
• notes in the logging database
• user questionnaire

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Graffiti user study

• Notes posted to Graffiti
• Discussions held during large lecture (URLs,
  criticism of topic, apology for cell phone)
• Request for help (anyone have the readings?
  Anyone take RSOC 101?)
• General chatting ala ICQ/IM whispering in
  class
• General ads for websites, games, events (some
  location specific, some not)

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Graffiti user study

• Conceptual issues
• Conceptual model problems -- used like e-mail or
  ICQ/IM, did not distinguish between Graffiti and
  these modes of communication
• Some saw location-sensitivity as a limitation
• Didnt really know what to say that related to
  the location.
• Many didnt like being limited to the current
  context (ignores users capacity for planning)
• Confusion about location-awareness feature.
  Misunderstandings about where notes were coming
  from and going to (need to know context of other
  users).

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Graffiti user study

• Social issues
• Issue of critical mass not enough content to
  warrant using, not enough users
• Did not support synchronous communication which
  is the way most students ended up using it
• Other issues
• Desire for additional context sensing by the
  device specifically whos close by, activity
  sensing (fun vs. work)

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Future Plans

• Other devices
• Handhelds with wireless capabilities
• Other environments
• Museums
• Landscaping
• Other user groups
• Faculty, staff
• Museum visitors townies
• Campus tourists