It's the thought that counts: content vs. contact

ABSTRACT

We are currently exploring two domains where the introduction of content gathering technologies is having a negative impact on social contact, particularly telecare technologies on independent living and sensor technologies on remote regional workers. To minimise the incidental cost of such interventions we are investigating enhanced design options that include contact, in the form of presence/awareness, as secondary functionality of these technologies.

In this paper we classify a sample of presence technologies from the home environments using a model of presence, based on the concept of content and contact. Content is discussed in terms of the communication bandwidth while contact is viewed from the attention requirement of both initiator and receiver. Issues and successes of each category are highlighted, and we conclude with a contact focused interaction pattern that relates to, but is not driven by, content.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.m Miscellaneous

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Theory

Keywords:
contact, content, model of presence, presence technologies