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Context-Aware Mobile Computing. Amanda Draheim. Overview. Definition Examples History Issues Solutions Future. Definition. What is context?
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Context-Aware Mobile Computing Amanda Draheim
Overview • Definition • Examples • History • Issues • Solutions • Future
Definition • What is context? • “Context is any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity. An entity is a person, place or object that is considered relevant to the interaction between a user and an application, including the user and applications themselves, and by extension, the environment the user and applications are embedded in. A system is context-aware if it uses context to provide relevant information and/or services to the user, where relevancy depends on the user’s task.” (Dey, 2001)
Definition • What is context? • Information that is used to characterize the situation of an entity • Examples of Context: • Temperature • User preferences • Lighting • Location • Nearby resources (such as printers) • History
Definition • What is Context-Aware Mobile Computing? • Applications that can detect their user’s situations and adapt to their behaviors accordingly. • A software that adapts according to it’s context!
Definition • Context-Aware applications use context to: • Present services and information to a user • Examples: The time of day and restaurants near the user • Automaticallyexecute a service for a user • Example: A phone automatically setting a weekly alarm for the user • Tag information to retrieve at a later time • Example: Phone keeps track of recent calls
Examples • Smartphone adjusts the screen to the orientation of the device • Orientation is determined by using both a gyroscope and an accelerometer. Figure 1
Examples • Phone display adjusts the brightness of the display based on the surrounding area • Uses a light sensor • Device uses GPS to display the user’s location • Can use to find nearby stores • Get directions • Status updates on Facebook!
Examples • The time is displayed on the phone. • Time zone change • Daylight savings time
Examples • Device disables touch screen when the user speaks on the phone • How? • A proximity sensor! • Uses infrared rays to send a signal out. The time it takes to be reflected back is measured and from this, proximity can be detected. Figure 2
Examples • Active Badge location system • One of the first context-aware applications – based on location • Call-forwarding system • Issues • Private call forwarding to a public room • Call is forwarded too important meeting
Examples • Schneider trucking trackers • Uses GPS to track loads • Sends a notification when a load nears it’s destination • Sends emergency notifications when conditions are met Figure 3
History • First mention of context-aware computing was in 1991 • The term context-aware computing was coined in 1994 by Schilit and Theimer • Smart phones become prevalent • Enabler for context-aware computing
History • Summary: The concept of context-aware computing as been around for nearly two decades, but we are yet to reach the full potential of this technology.
Issues • Developers have little experience with devices that gather the data. (i.e. gyroscopes) • Data gathered from a sensor must be interpreted correctly in order for it to be useful. • Context comes from various sources and in order for this data to be useful it must be combined correctly. (i.e. the gyroscope and accelerometer working together to determine orientation) • The context changes constantly in real time can be an issue.
Issues • Increasing usability or decreasing control? • Automation reduces the amount of work that user’s have to do • User’s like the idea of a device that completes tasks on their behalf • However, when users use these devices they feel a loss of control if a device has a high level of automation
Issues • Privacy Issues • Should law enforcement be able to access the history of a user? • Context recognition is not always correct • Errors fusing data • Detection errors • Interpretation errors • Application becomes too complex • Reduces accuracy of the application
Issues • User preferences may not match what the device does • Everyone is different! • What is your idea of nighttime? • What is your idea of warm? Loud? • Information overload • Can overwhelm the user
Solutions • Keep an appropriate level of automation (avoid uncertainty) • The more automation we have, the less control we have over what is happening. • What happens if we give all control to machines? • Would you trust your phone to give you a dose of medicine? • Keep a balance between uncertainty and automation.
Solutions • Avoid unnecessary interruptions • Phone flashes a notification every 30 seconds • Eventually the user will ignore it! • Avoid information overload • Too much information can overwhelm the user, and bog down the device • Example: Walking down a busy street a user’s device is bombarded with suggestions of places to shop
Solutions • Be sure the user feels in control of the application • Too many automated actions = loss of control • A balance between automation and user control needs to be found • Smart Actions - A good balance.
Solutions • Keep an appropriate level of system status visibility • Allow the user to see what action the device is taking • Be sure the user understands why the device is performing the action • Account for the impact of Social Context • A loud alert is not ideal for all situations • Allow for the personalization of individual needs • Allow user to change locations names (set a location name to “home” for example) • Smart Actions
Solutions • Secure the user’s privacy • Selling information to advertisers…is this right? • Giving information to the police, when does this cross the line? • Sharing context information with others—Facebook location
Future • Healthcare devices • Blood sugar • Carbon monoxide detectors • Breathalyzer • Fall detection
Future • In law enforcement • Ability to solve crimes using contextual information from devices • In vehicles • Cars that are able to drive themselves • Collision avoidance • Warning if departing lane • Automatically adjusts seats and headrests to avoid whiplash • Warns if a car is in blind spot when changing lanes
Future • Retail • An application could make smart recommendations based on where you have eaten in the past • Types of food • Budget • Atmosphere • Retailers can use smartphones to be able to tell the types of products you buy and send advertisements/coupons based on those products. • Use RFID chips in the products • Able to tell what consumer buys and send relevant coupons.
Future • Gaming • Use of the gyroscope will revolutionize mobile gaming • Wii is an example of the use of a gyroscope • Can phones incorporate the same technology? • Example: Google Sky Map ( accelerometer only) • Example: Gun Range App for iPhone( gyroscope and accelerometer )
Resources • Dey, Anind K. and JonnaHäkkilä. "Context-Awareness and Mobile Devices."Handbook of Research on User Interface Design and Evaluation for Mobile Technology. IGI Global, 2008. 205-217. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. doi:10.4018/978-1-59904-871-0.ch013 • GuanlingChen and David Kotz, "A Survey of Context-Aware Mobile Computing Research." Dartmouth Computer Science Technical Report TR2000-381, November 2000. • B. Schilit, N. Adams, and R. Want. 1994. Context-Aware Computing Applications. In Proceedings of the 1994 First Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications (WMCSA '94). IEEE Computer Society, Washington, DC, USA, 85-90. DOI=10.1109/WMCSA.1994.16 http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/WMCSA.1994.16 • TamasVajk, Paul Coulton, Will Bamford, and Reuben Edwards, “Using a Mobile Phone as a “Wii-like” Controller for Playing Games on a Large Public Display,” International Journal of Computer Games Technology, vol. 2008, Article ID 539078, 6 pages, 2008. doi:10.1155/2008/539078
Images and Media • Figures • 1 - http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2010/09/21/ballistic-missile-guidance-on-your-cell-phone/ • 2 - http://thecodeartist.blogspot.com/2011/01/proximity-sensor-on-android-gingerbread.html • 3 - http://logisticsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/schneider.jpg • Videos • Car video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9lubGxD6BM • Gyroscope game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veN-WHhtcjs