Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

From Conception to Design

A practical guide to designing ambient displays

  • Chapter
Public and Situated Displays

Abstract

This chapter discusses displays that sit on the periphery of a user’s attention. Many public displays of information that we encounter are in this category the majority of the time, including clocks, posters, and windows. Computationally enhanced variations on this theme are called peripheral displays. Our work focuses on ambient displays, a subset of peripheral displays that continuously display information to be monitored. Peripheral (and ambient) displays have the peculiar property that they are not meant to be the focus of the user’s attention. Contrast this with desktop applications, which require a user’s attention. In this chapter, we present a case study of two public ambient displays that we developed and evaluated. We present some lessons learned about the design of ambient displays, and conclude with a practical guide to using a modified version of heuristic evaluation that we developed as a result of designing these displays.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bartram, L., Ware, C., and Calvert, T. Moving icons: Detection and distraction. Proceedings of Human-Computer Interaction—Interact; 2001, July; Tokyo, Japan. IOS Press, IFIP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chafe, C., and Niemeyer, G. Oxygen flute. Installation by Artists, San Jose Museum of Art, October 13, 2001–June, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chewar, C., and McCrickard, D. S. (2002). Adapting UEMs for notification systems. Design and evaluation of notification interfaces for ubiquitous computing, Ubicomp 2002: workshop 9; 2002, September 29-October 1; Göteborg, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, D. and Greenberg, S. Supporting collaborative interpretation in distributed groupwear. Proceedings of the CSCW 2000 Conference Computer Supported Collaborative Work; 2000, December 2–6; Philadelphia, PA. ACM Press. pp. 289–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutrell, E., Czerwinski, M. & Horvitz, E. Notification, disruption and memory: Effects of messaging interruptions on memory and performance. Proceedings of Human-Computer Interaction—Interact; 2001, July; Tokyo, Japan. IOS Press, IFIP. pp. 263–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czerwinski, M., Cutrell, E. & Horvitz, E. Instant Messaging and Interruption: Influence of Task Type on Performance. Proceedings of OZCHI 2000 Conference; 2000, December 4–8; Sydney, Australia. pp. 356–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumais, S. and Czerwinski, M.. Building bridges from theory to practice. Proceedings of HCI International 2001, 9th Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. 2001, August 5–10; New Orleans, LA, USA. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. pp. 1358–1362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, W. D., and Salzman, M. C. Damaged merchandise? A review of experiments that compare usability evaluation methods. Human-Computer Interaction 1998; 13 (3): 203–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallnas, L., and Redstrom, J. Slow technology; designing for reflection. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing 2001; 5 (3): 201–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heiner, J. M., Hudson, S. E., and Tanaka, K. The information percolator: Ambient information display in a decorative object. Proceedings of the UIST 1999 Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology. 1999, November 7–10; Asheville, NC, USA. ACM Press. pp. 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho-Ching, W. L., Mankoff, J., and Landay, J. From data to display: the design and evaluation of a peripheral sound display for the deaf. Proceedings of the CHI 2003 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2003, April 05–10; Ft. Lauderdale, CA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 161–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Höök, K., Sengers, P. and Andersson, G. Sense and sensibility: Evaluation and interactive art. Proceedings of the CHI 2003 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2003, April 05–10; Ft. Lauderdale, CA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 241–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horvitz, E., Jacobs, A., and Hovel, D. Attention-sensitive alerting. Proceedings of the UAI 1999 Conference on Uncertainty and Artificial Intelligence (UAI 99). 1999, July 30-Aug 1; San Francisco, CA, USA. Morgan Kaufmann. pp. 305–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, S.E., Fogarty, J., Atkeson, C.G., Forlizzi, J., Kielser, S., Lee, J.C., and Yang, J (2003). Predicting human interruptibility with sensors: A Wizard of Oz feasibility study. Proceedings of the CHI 2003 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2003, April 05–10; Ft. Lauderdale, CA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 257–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Intille, S. S. Change blind information display for ubiquitous computing environments. Proceedings of Ubicomp 2002, LCNS 2498. 2002, September 29-October 1; Göteborg, Sweden. Springer-Verlag. pp. 91–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishii, H., Wisneski, C., Brave, S., Dahley, A., Gorbet, M., Ullmer, B., and Yarin, P. Ambient displays: Turning architectural space into an interface between people and digital information. Proceedings of the CoBuild 1998 First International Workshop on Cooperative Buildings, LCNS 1370. 1998, February; Darmstadt, Germany. Springer-Verlag. pp. 22–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maglio, P.P. & Campbell, C.S. Tradeoffs in displaying peripheral information. Proceedings of the CHI 2000 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2000, April 1–6; The Hague, The Netherlands. ACM Press. pp. 241–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamykina, O., Mynatt, E.D., and Terry, M. Time aura: Interfaces for pacing. Proceedings of the CHI 2001 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2001, March 31- April 5; Seattle, WA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 144–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mankoff, J., Dey, A., Hsieh, G., Kientz, J., Lederer, S., and Ames, M. Heuristic evaluation of ambient displays. Proceedings of the CHI 2003 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2003, April 05–10; Ft. Lauderdale, CA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 169–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCrickard, D. S., Catrambone, R. and Stasko, J. T. Evaluating animation in the periphery as a mechanism for maintaining awareness. Proceedings of Human-Computer Interaction— Interact; 2001, July; Tokyo, Japan. IOS Press, IFIP. pp. 148–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCrickard, D. S., Catrambone, R., Chewar, C. M. and Stasko, J. T. Establishing tradeoffs that leverage attention for utility: Empirically evaluating information display in notification systems. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 2003; 8 (5): 547–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCrickard, D.S., Wrighton, D., and Bussert, D. Supporting the construction of real world interfaces. Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE Symposia on Human Centric Computing Languages and Environments. 2002, September 03–06; Arlington, VA, USA. IEEE Press. pp. 54–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mynatt, E., Back, M., Want, R., Baer, M., and Ellis, J. B. Designing Audio Aura. Proceedings of the CHI 1998 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 1998, April 18–23; Los Angeles, CA. ACM Press. pp. 566–573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mynatt, E., Rowan, J., Craighill, S., and Jacobs, A. (2001). Digital family portraits: Providing peace of mind for extended family members. Proceedings of the CHI 2001 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2001, March 31-April 5; Seattle, WA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 333–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, J. “Guerrilla HCI: Using discount usability engineering to penetrate the intimidation barrier.” In Cost-Justifying Usability, R. G. Bias and D. J. Mayhew, ed., Academic Press, 1994. pp. 245–272. (Online Version: http://www.useit.com/papers/guerrilla_hci.html)

  • Nielsen, J. Ten usability heuristics. Retrieved August, 2002 from: http://www.useit.com/ papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html

  • Nielsen, J. and Landauer, T. K. A mathematical model of the finding of usability problems. Proceedings of the INTERCHI 1993 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 1993, April 24–29; Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ACM Press. pp. 206–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, J., and Molich, R. Heuristic evaluation of user interfaces. Proceedings of the CHI 1990 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 1990, April 1–5; Seattle, WA, USA. ACM Press. pp. 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pederson, E.R. and Sokoler, T. Aroma: abstract representation of presence supporting mutual awareness. Proceedings of the CHI 1997 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 1997, March 22–27; Atlanta, GA. ACM Press. pp. 51–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagi, D., and Julesz, B. “Where” and “what” in vision. Science 1985; 228: 1217–1219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiernan, S. L., Cutrell, E., and Czerwinski, M. Effective notification systems depend on user trust. Proceedings of Human-Computer Interaction—Interact; 2001, July; Tokyo, Japan. IOS Press, IFIP. pp. 684–685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treismann, A., and Gelade, G. A feature integration theory of attention. Cognitive Psychology 1980; 12: 97–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dantzich, M., Robbins, D., Horvitz, E., and Czerwinski, M. Scope: Providing awareness of multiple notifications at a glance. Proceedings of the AVI 2002 6th International Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces. 2002, May 22–24; Trento, Italy. ACM Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vredenburg, K., Mao, J.-Y., Smith, P. W., and Carey, T. A survey of user-centered design practice. Proceedings of the CHI 2002 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2002, April 20–25; Minneapolis, MN, USA. ACM Press. pp. 471–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiser, M. (1991). The computer for the 21st century. Scientific American 1991; 265 (3): 94–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiser, M., and Brown, J. S. Designing calm technology. PowerGrid Journal. 1996; 1(1). (Online Version: http://www.ubiq.com/weiser/calmtech/calmtech.htm).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UC Berkeley, USA

    Jennifer Mankoff & Anind K. Dey

  2. Intel Research Berkeley, USA

    Anind K. Dey

Authors
  1. Jennifer Mankoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anind K. Dey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Appliance Studio, Bristol, UK

    Kenton O’Hara

  2. Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK

    Mark Perry

  3. Fuji-Xerox Palo Alto Laboratory, Palo Alto, California, USA

    Elizabeth Churchill

  4. IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California, USA

    Daniel Russell

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mankoff, J., Dey, A.K. (2003). From Conception to Design. In: O’Hara, K., Perry, M., Churchill, E., Russell, D. (eds) Public and Situated Displays. The Kluwer International series on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2813-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2813-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6449-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-2813-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation