Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Capturing the effects of context on human performance in mobile computing systems

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Personal and Ubiquitous Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many real world mobile device interactions occur in context-rich environments. However, the majority of empirical studies on mobile computing are conducted in static or idealized conditions, resulting in a deficit of understanding of how changes in context impact users’ abilities to perform effectively. This paper attempts to address the disconnect between the actual use and the evaluation of mobile devices by varying contextual conditions and recording changes in behavior. A study was performed to investigate the specific effects of changes in motion, lighting, and task type on user performance and workload. The results indicate that common contextual variations can lead to dramatic changes in behavior and that interactions between contextual factors are also important to consider.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brewster S, Leplâtre G, Crease MG (1998) Using non-speech sounds in mobile computing devices. In: First workshop on human computer interaction with mobile devices, Glasgow, Scotland

  2. Johnson P (1998) Usability and mobility: interactions on the move. In: First workshop on human computer interaction with mobile devices, Glasgow, Scotland

  3. Kristoffersen S, Ljungberg F (1999) Designing interaction styles for a mobile use context. In: HUC’99. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  4. Oulasvirta A (2004) Finding meaningful uses for context-aware technologies: the humanistic research strategy. CHI Lett 6:247–254

    Google Scholar 

  5. Beale R, Lonsdale P (2004) Mobile context aware systems: the intelligence to support tasks and effectively utilise resources. In: Sixth international mobile HCI conference, Glasgow, Scotland. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  6. Dourish P (2004) What we talk about when we talk about context. PUC 8:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  7. Marmasse N, Schmandt C (2000) Location-aware information delivery with ComMotion. In: Handheld and ubiquitous computing, Bristol, UK. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  8. Dey AK, Abowd GD, Salber D (1999) A context-based infrastructure for smart environments. In: International workshop on managing interactions in smart environments (MANSE ‘99)

  9. Jang S-I, Kim J-H, Ramakrishna RS (2001) Framework for building mobile context-aware applications. In: Human.Society@Internet. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  10. Hess CK, Campbell RH (2003) An application of a context-aware file system. PUC 7:339–352

    Google Scholar 

  11. Van der Meer S, Arbanowski S, Popescu-Zeletin R (1999) A platform for environment-aware applications. In: International symposium on handheld and ubiquitous computing

  12. Sears A et al (2003) When computers fade...pervasive computing and situationally-induced impairments and disabilities. In: Stephanidis C (ed) Human–computer interaction: theory and practice (Part II). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, pp 1298–1302

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kjeldskov J, Graham CA (2003) Review of mobile HCI research methods. In: Fifth international symposium on human computer interaction with mobile devices and services, Udine, Finland

  14. Brewster S (2002) Overcoming the lack of screen space on mobile computers. PUC 6:188–205

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hinckley K et al (2000) Sensing techniques for mobile interaction. In: Proceedings of the 13th annual ACM symposium on user interface software and technology, San Diego, California

  16. Schmidt A, Beigl M, Gellersen HW (1999) There is more to context than location. Comput Graph 23:893–901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Gellersen HW, Schmidt A, Beigl M (2000) Adding some smartness to devices and everyday things. In: Workshop on mobile computing systems and applications, Monterey, California. IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos

  18. Barkhuus L (2003) Context information vs. sensor information: a model for categorizing context in context-aware mobile computing. In: Collaborative technologies and systems conference, San Diego, CA

  19. Randell C, Muller H (2000) Context awareness by analysing accelerometer data. In: Fourth international symposium on wearable computers, Atlanta, GA. IEEE Computer Society, Los Alamitos

  20. Rodden T, Chervest K, Davies N (1998) Exploiting context in HCI design for mobile systems. In: First workshop on human computer interaction with mobile devices. University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

  21. Lieberman H, Selker T (2000) Out of context: computer systems that adapt to, and learn from, context. IBM Syst J 39:617–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Korpipää P et al (2003) Bayesian approach to sensor-based context awareness. PUC 7:113–124

    Google Scholar 

  23. Intille S et al (2004) Acquiring in situ training data for context-aware ubiquitous computing applications. CHI Lett 6:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bellotti V, Edwards K (2001) Intelligibility and accountability: human considerations in context aware systems. HCI 16:193–212

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kristoffersen S, Ljungberg F (1999) Mobile use of IT. In: Twenty-second information systems research seminar in Scandinavia

  26. Bristow HW et al (2004) Defining and evaluating context for wearable computing. Int J Hum–Comput Stud 60:798–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Dunlop M, Brewster S (2002) The challenge of mobile devices for human computer interaction. PUC 6:235–236

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kjeldskov J et al (2004) Is it worth the hassle? Exploring the added value of evaluating the usability of context-aware mobile systems in the field. In: Sixth international mobile HCI 2004 conference, Glasgow, Scotland. Lecture notes in computer science. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

  29. Kjeldskov J, Stage J (2004) New techniques for usability evaluation of mobile systems. Int J Hum–Comput Stud 60:599–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Mustonen T, Olkkonen M, Hakkinen J (2004) Examining mobile phone text legibility while walking. In: Proceedings of CHI 2004. ACM Press, Vienna, pp 1243–1246

  31. Pascoe J, Ryan N, Morse D (2000) Using while moving: HCI issues in fieldwork environments. TOCHI 7:417–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Barnard L et al (2005) An empirical comparison of use-in-motion evaluation scenarios for mobile computing devices. Int J Hum–Comput Stud 62:487–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Open eBook Forum (2003), Q3 2003 eBook Statistics

  34. Learning express (1999) 501 Reading comprehension questions. LearningExpress, New York, NY

  35. Vernier Software & Technology, Accelerometers

  36. Hart SG, Staveland LE (1988) Development of NASA-TLX (task load index): results of empirical and theoretical research. In: Meshkati N (ed) Human mental workload. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 139–183

    Google Scholar 

  37. Yi JS et al (2005) Context awareness via a single device-attached accelerometer during mobile computing. In: 6th international mobile HCI 2005 conference, Salzburg, Austria, 19–22 September 2005, pp 303–306

  38. Neter J et al (1996) Applied linear statistical models. WCB McGraw-Hill, Boston

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are greatly indebted to Paula Edwards, V. Kathlene Leonard, Thitima Kongnakorn, and Kevin Moloney for their crucial assistance and support. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. IIS-0121570. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Leon Barnard & Ji Soo Yi

  2. Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Julie A. Jacko

  3. Interactive Systems Research Center UMBC, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Andrew Sears

Authors
  1. Leon Barnard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ji Soo Yi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie A. Jacko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Andrew Sears
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie A. Jacko.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barnard, L., Yi, J.S., Jacko, J.A. et al. Capturing the effects of context on human performance in mobile computing systems. Pers Ubiquit Comput 11, 81–96 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-006-0063-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-006-0063-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation