Being mobile influences not only the types of information people
seek but also the ways they attempt to access it. Mobile contexts present
challenges of changing location and social context, restricted time for
information access, and the need to share attentional resources among
concurrent activities. Understanding mobile information needs and associated
interaction challenges is fundamental to improving designs for mobile phones
and related devices. We conducted a two-week diary study to better understand
mobile information needs and how they are addressed. Our study revealed that
depending on the time and resources available, as well as the situational
context, people use diverse and, at times, ingenious ways to obtain needed
information. We summarize key findings and discuss design implications for
mobile technology.
Pre-2018 CSE ID: CS2007-0909