2006/10/15

Mobile and Pervasive Technology in the Urban Space

Author: Diogo Terroso
University: The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies


Abstract: The convergence of enabling technologies for mobile and portable connectivity has widespread potential and presents us unforeseen challenges. As such devices become commonplace and link-up wirelessly, the urban space emerges as a responsive surface, where streams of invisible data flow into and from our mobile devices.
Proximity based networks, like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, enable people to deliver and exchange rich media between mobile phones and other wireless devices. Developments in the technological infrastructure of such networks have been continuous but have mostly focused on implementation rather than integration. Consequently, most applications have failed to provide interface solutions for experiencing proximity media and context-aware networks in meaningful ways. Instead, they have consistently added to the accumulation of intrusive and redundant information, reinforcing the information pollution of our days.
By following the presumption that the urban space has now become a responsive surface. Is it possible to design an intelligent user interface for mobile devices that enable a satisfactory experience of proximity media services? What are the fundamental design and architecture principles that such model should follow?
This research recognizes interaction design as central to the proposition of new interface development for proximity-based networks. It explores the possibility of retrieving information by context, or according to the user's current location, therefore enabling perhaps new forms of local dynamics.
Ultimately this project aims at changing our perception of the invisible, pervasive stream of data coming from wireless networks.

(paper available as pdf)