Managing My Impression » Ubicomp http://phdboy.sarahstim.com Timothy D. Bowman, Ph.D. Student, SLIS @ IUB Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:33:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Folk Theories and Ubicomp http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/2009/02/14/folk-theories-and-ubicomp/ http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/2009/02/14/folk-theories-and-ubicomp/#comments Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:51:09 +0000 Tim Bowman http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/?p=39 In a recent study by by Poole, et. al., Reflecting on the invisible: Understanding end-user
perceptions of ubiquitous computing, the authors examine “non-functional” properties of technology adoption.   The authors claim that a user’s understanding of what a technology does and how it works shapes their “orientation” towards it.  Specifically focusing on the concept of RFID technology, study participants were asked about their understanding of the technology and the implications of adoption.  The authors used a method from public policy in which they combined semi-structured interviewing techniques with an exercise in which participants described various images.  The authors insinuated that they garnished a much better response from the photo presentation technique than they would have been able to receive with standard questionnaires.   35 participants were interviewed and shown the photos (72 total photos).  Results showed that although participants were basically in the dark when it came to an understanding of the whats and hows of RFID, many could describe the technology by analogy (Folk Theories).   They found that the participant’s perceptions of RFID were greatly influenced by popular culture (.. no surprise there..).   Some learned from their family/friends, some from their job.  It was discovered that 2/3 of the participants had used some form of the technology.  The study goes on to discuss participant perceptions of social appropriateness, identity management, trust, and personal choice.  In the end, the authors discuss the importance of understanding public perceptions of ubiquitous computing technologies, most of which can be invisible to the population and difficult to understand.  Through a greater understanding of folk theories,  users values, and user expectations, HCI professionals and system designers can begin to design these ubicomp technologies to support or exceed these expectations.

This research is very insightful.  I am extremely interested in the impact of ubiquitous computing on the social interactions of individuals and society at large.  I hope that as HCI professionals we continue to realize the impact that popular culture, folk theories and urban legends have on the public’s acceptance and use of technologies, especially technologies that are invisible.

In related work, Mathew Chalmers has done extensive research into the areas of seamless and seamful computing.  Seamless describes an environment in which ubiquitous technology is hidden from a user (like the Wizard behind the curtain), whereas seamful computing describes an environment where users are made aware of changes in their environment (such as switching from network to network).   Of course it does not have to be binary, there are varying degrees of either.  The important point is how, as a designer, we are to know which will be most appropriate at which time?  There are many variables to consider and varying slants on each.

]]> http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/2009/02/14/folk-theories-and-ubicomp/feed/ 0 Geographic Information Systems http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/2008/05/14/geographic-information-systems/ http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/2008/05/14/geographic-information-systems/#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 16:12:30 +0000 Tim Bowman http://phdboy.sarahstim.com/?p=4 Summer I has started and I’m enrolled in GIS, Agent-based Modeling, an Independent Research Class and a Ph.D. Research Class.  Only 6 credit hours total, but mucho work.    The GIS is very interesting.  We are using ESRI Desktop GIS software, specifically ArcMap and ArcCatalog to do our GIS work.  I’m interested in GIS because of its ubiquitous nature.  Although it seems that GIS software at this point is mostly confined to the desktop, it won’t be long before we will be creating reports on the fly from our PDA or mobile phone.  How cool is that!  The Agent-based Modeling class will also be exciting.  I will write more regarding research soon.  I have started narrowing down my research interests and I’m starting to focus on Mark Weiser’s vision for ubiquitous computing.  More specifically Mattew Chalmers‘ ideas of “seamful” design.  I also enjoy Chalmers’ use of Heideggerian theory to examine the seams in ubiquitous computing.   Specifically the present-at-hand and ready-to-hand transformations occurring in the seams of ubiquitous computing.

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