Title
Paratyping: A Contextualized Method of Inquiry for Understanding Perceptions of Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing Technologies
Abstract
In this article, we describe the origins, use, and efficacy of a contextualized method for evaluating mobile and ubiquitous computing systems. This technique, which we called paratyping, is based on experience prototyping and event-contingent experience sampling and allows researchers to survey people in real-life situations without the need for costly and sometimes untenable deployment evaluations. We used this tool to probe the perceptions of the conversation partners of users of the Personal Audio Loop, a memory aid with the potential for substantial privacy implications. Based on that experience, we refined and adapted the approach to evaluate SenseCam, a wearable, automatic picture-taking device, across multiple geographic locations. We describe the benefits, challenges, and methodological considerations that emerged during our use of the paratyping method across these two studies. We describe how this method blends some of the benefits of survey-based research with more contextualized methods, focusing on trustworthiness of the method in terms of generating scientific knowledge. In particular, this method is a good fit for studying certain classes of mobile and ubiquitous computing applications but can be applied to many types of applications.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.1080/07370024.2012.697041
Human computer interaction
Keywords
Field
DocType
conversation partner,paratyping method,contextualized method,personal audio loop,certain class,experience prototyping,ubiquitous computing application,event-contingent experience sampling,ubiquitous computing system,understanding perceptions,automatic picture-taking device,ubiquitous computing technologies,scientific knowledge,ubiquitous computing
Software deployment,Conversation,Sociology of scientific knowledge,Wearable computer,Trustworthiness,Computer science,Knowledge management,Experience sampling method,Human–computer interaction,Ubiquitous computing,Perception
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
28
3
0737-0024
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
4
0.41
25
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Gillian Hayes11852155.64
KhaiN. Truong240.41