StickySpots: using location to embed technology in the social practices of the home

ABSTRACT

Ethnographic studies of domestic environments have shown the fundamental roles that locations and context play in helping people understand and manage information in their homes. Yet it is not clear how this knowledge can be applied to the design of home technologies. For this reason, we present a case study in home technology design that uses the understandings gained from previous ethnographic studies on domestic locations to motivate the design of a home messaging system. Our prototype, called StickySpots, uses locations to embed technology in the social practices of the home. We then use this case study to reflect more generally on location-based design in the home.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Prototyping

Keywords:
case studies, domestic technology, location-based design, messaging, ubiquitous computing