a user study on location-based mobile search
TRANSCRIPT
A User Study on Location-based Mobile Search (LBMS)
Alia Amin*, Sian Townsend**,
Lynda Hardman*, Jacco van Ossenbruggen*
* Center for Mathematics & Informatics (CWI)
Background
Few dedicated research on location-based information needs
Mostly generic:
large scale (e.g. Baeza-Yates2007): anonymous, millions of queries
small scale (e.g. Sohn 2008): longitudinal (diary) study, few queries
Exception: geographic query analysis (e.g. Sanderson2004)
Thus, there are many unanswered questions Are users only interested in results near to where they are?
Does context play a role in location-based information need?
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Background
This research is about:
how location-based mobile information seeking needs are expressed as queries
the influence of social and spatial context
how this translates in improving location-based services
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Location-based mobile search
Definition:
A mobile search for a business or point of interest that is tied to a specific geographic location
Note:
• Location might NOT be where you are
physically when you conduct the query
• Location may NOT be in the query
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Understand location-based mobile search & the context when it happens
9 people, 27-35 years old, BlackBerryusers, have mobile dataplan
London, UK
12 days
Attend a briefing sessionParticipate in a diary studyAttend a debrief interview
Goal
Who?
Where?
How long?
What did they do?
Digital Diary Study
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DATA RECORDING
Digital Diary Tool
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Data Collected
Diary entries
query, time & GPS coordinates
where, when, who they were with at the time of the query
task intent , task importance, task success
Debriefing interview
diary entry clarifications
decision making
place maps
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Key Findings
1. People express location-based information needs by:
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68% 32%
Simple queries Detailed queries
2. Location-based search domains of interest
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Mobile Search
12Kamvar et al. 2008
3. Insights into the spatial context of LBMS
Method:
diary entries (place name)
GPS location information (coordinate)
place map
Conclusion: People tend to stick to well trodden paths through their local environment
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14HOMEWORK
On the move
4. Insights into the Spatial context of LBMS
These hotspots are:
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Friends/family house Public places At work On the move At/near home
6.5 %8.5 %
12.0 %20.0 %53.0 %
4. Insights into the Social context of LBMS
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76 % in the presence of others
(family, friends, colleagues)
– prompt: event planning, conversation, recommendation
24 % alone
– prompt: necessity
5. Decision Making in LBMS
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Social context 34%Spatial context 15%
Product/service 24%Other 27%
Summary
Participants tend to make simple queries rather then detailed queries
Most popular domain of interest are: stores, food & drinks, entertainment, local news & transport
People tend to stick to well trodden paths through their local environment
Decision making is influenced primarily by: social networks, spatial networks & type of products
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Design implications for location-based search applications
Simple queries in specific domains should be considered location-based information needs (e.g. stores, food & drink)
Provide recommendations, snippet, etc.
based on spatial network
based on social network
Additional ideas (see paper):
provide location-based query refinement
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Study Limitation
4 males, 5 females
Blackberry users
about 3 search / day
definition
Future Work
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Acknowledgements
• Liviu Tancau
• Terry Van Belle
• Jens Riegelsberger
• Robin Jeffries
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