Exploring usage scenarios on social devices
Jarmo Palviainen, Katja Suhonen, Kaisa Väänänen, T. Aaltonen, Tapani Leppänen · 2013
Mobile devices and social media are designed primarily to support communication between remote people. However, the sensors in modern smart phones allow also proxemic interactions between the devices and their co-located users. In such interactions, mobile devices can act as smart, social objects -- or Social Devices -- proactively triggering interpersonal interactions. We present the results of our explorative user study about usage scenarios and user perceptions of Social Devices. We conducted three bodystorming sessions and eight laboratory sessions to expose altogether 39 participants to the concept of Social Devices. The bodystorming sessions resulted in a set of novel usage scenarios for Social Devices. The evaluations of the scenarios and prototypes show that participants valued Social Devices offering surprising social effects, such as discovering mutual interest between users. However, participants strongly expressed the need to control the device-initiated interactions. Based on the findings, we suggest five design implications for further development of related concepts.