How People Really Use the Mobile Web - Human-Computer Interaction and Innovation in Handheld, Mobile and Wearable Technologies - page 208

a nail salon that was still open. So I Googled the
street I was on and called.” (Participant 4, Part
2) Participants made active use of the mobile
Web to locate and access maps and directions
for Action Support both in advance and en route.
“Before I started driving…I typed in the name
of my tattoo shop, and it brought up the website
with the phone number…and I called him up.”
(Participant 6, Part 1)

In addition, we saw the mobile Web being used
in a social context as a tool for accessing informa-
tion relevant to a group discussion (for example,
settling a factual argument in a bar with friends).
“The truth is right here. I got the truth right here
in my hand, buddy. Let's end this argument right
now.” (Participant 13, Part 1) The mobile Web
also helped facilitate group activity by directly
supporting the decision-making and actions of
a group (for example, deciding which bar to go
to, checking on the time for the next movie, and
getting directions to a restaurant). “We were out
and about. We wanted to go somewhere like within
an hour maybe, but we didn't have any paper,
so we're like look it up real quick, so see what's
around.” (Participant 13, Part 1)
Finally we saw an increase in the amount
of access to social networking sites (primarily
Facebook and MySpace) between the first and
the second diary study. “Any little thing I want
to look up like if I'm on MySpace I can just look
up on my phone. Unless I'm sending photos to
somebody” (Participant 7, Part 2) Participants did
use these sites as a way to maintain social con-
nections “[Regarding Facebook] it's a great way
to keep in contact rather than making a hundred
phone calls.” (Participant 5, Part 1) However,
much of the social networking activity involved
checking text messages and wallsfor a new mes-
sage or post. People used social networks as an
alternative to e-mail, as well as a means to learn
about upcoming social events (for example, band
concerts and local social gatherings). And it was
rare for people to update their personal page or
blog using a mobile device. Most indicated they
would wait to do so on a computer. “I never check
my website on my phone. 'Cause there's [sic] a
lot of graphics, and it's [the mobile display is]
just too small.” (Participant 2, Part 2)

Social Companion

While the majority of access was conducted while
people were by themselves, we observed an in-
teresting social phenomenon of people accessing
the mobile Web while with other people because
they were not interested or participating in the
particular event taking place (such as watching a
movie, playing a basketball game, practicing with
a band). “Each group had their own thing going
on…where everyone was working on the guitar
and recording, they were talking about that kind
of stuff. And since I don't really have anything to
do with the band, I was just kind of like watching
the TV and using my Internet [sic].” (Participant
6, Part 1) Having the mobile Web allowed them
to still spend time with their friends and loved
ones while having something of personal interest
to occupy their time. This parallel information
access provided a socially acceptable means of
accessing the Web while still staying connected
with other people and fulfilling social obligations.

Social Facilitation

Another social phenomenon we observed was
people using Web information on phones, like
photos or entertainment stories, as a means to
enliven the group experience and connect with
other people in person. “So I was like, oh, well,
I'm going to show her pictures on here…then I
would show it to my other friends, too, because
we saw some really funny pictures of a hamster.”
(Participant 6, Part 1)

Skimming the Surface

Mobile Web usage was seamless and superficial:
users constantly skimmed along the surface of Web