Evaluating non-interactive domestic situated SMS messaging
John Downs, Beryl Plimmer · 2009
We present our evaluation of our SMS-to-photo-frame messaging system in diverse households. We explored whether low-cost, non-interactive ambient displays were useful when applied to domestic messaging. We performed an ethnographic study with two different types of households, during which we analysed their usage of the system and conducted a series of interviews. We found that all households used the system to some degree, but that the social context and communication styles were distinctly different between households comprised of families and those with fictive kin. This highlights the importance of considering the household structure when designing domestic technology. Additionally, our preliminary study explored the minimum requirements for a useful messaging appliance for the home, particularly with respect to interactivity.