Paper Summary: |
Traditional notification systems for mobile devices are typically either auditory (such as rings and beeps), which can by attention demanding, intrusive and inappropriate in many social situations, or tactical (such as vibration) which can be too subtle, making it difficult for others to perceive the cue and understand users' reactions. The paper discusses the problems associated with these two notification systems, describes related projects dealing with notification, and proposes an optimal formula for notification systems.
The authors introduce the term attention overload to describe a situation where people are overwhelmed and interrupted by intrusive and attention demanding events. Intrusive notifications such as sounds and blinking lights not only demand the attention of the user but other people nearby as well. Tactile cues such as vibration are also problematic since it is difficult for other people to perceive the cues making it hard for them to understand a user's reaction. The authors seek to design notification cues that are both public and subtle . The paper discusses a Reminder Bracelet that conveys visual notifications similar to many of the properties of calm technology and ambient displays. The prototype was designed with a low demand for users' attention and a high level of acceptance in social contexts. The authors also suggest a need to evaluate and design notification systems that can be personalized by users so that users can express their emotions and personality.
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