Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
to demonstrate the typical interactions taking place in the real world context as a way to support
imagination and immersion in the real setting. For example, video data have been used to support an
expert-based evaluation of an e-learning course that was delivered on a mobile device (
Gabrielli et al.
,
2005
).
In the formative stages of the design process, low fidelity prototypes, i.e., prototypes with a
low degree of functionality and narrow breadth of features, can be used. However, as the design
progresses, user tests need to be introduced. In the context of mobile computing, user tests will
not only require the inclusion of real users, real setting, and device interaction tasks, but also real
or primary tasks (or realistic simulations of the real tasks and of the real settings). As mentioned
previously, realistic simulations of the real tasks and of the real settings could be adopted as an
alternative. There would, therefore, be the need to provide a prototype that supports the real tasks
and real settings, or their simulations. This does imply some cost in the design process because the
prototype at this level would need to be sufficiently robust and reliable in order to support primary
tasks in real settings or the simulations. In fact, the technology required to develop mobile computing
systems is often on the cutting edge. Finding people with cutting edge skills in mobile development
is difficult. As a result, developing a reliable and robust mobile computing prototype or application
is not easy (
Abowd and Mynatt
,
2000
;
Abowd, Mynatt, and Rodden
,
2002
). Moreover, researchers
are deploying mobile devices into various real world settings, e.g., libraries, museums, etc. They
are setting up “living laboratories” by creating test beds for advanced research and development in
mobile computing (
Abowd, Mynatt, and Rodden
,
2002
).
In summary, mobile and ubiquitous interfaces offer novel opportunities for information access.
However, more research is still needed, ranging from new visualizations to diverse validation methods,
to make them really effective and usable.
