CFP: Workshop, Pervasive Computing & Design: Designing and Evaluating Ambient Information Systems

The purpose of this workshop is to explore topics of ambient information with respect to the various technologies and smart materials with which they might be implemented; identify problems in design, development, and evaluation; and derive new fundamental questions that need to be addressed.

Workshop attendees should leave with a better understanding of what ambient is and next steps to further research in this domain.

Questions we would like to address in this workshop include:

• How are ambient information systems distinct from other information technologies? (i.e., what defines technology as being ambient?)
• What are the appropriate methods for evaluating ambient information systems?
• How much ambient information can one perceive and comprehend correctly?
• What sorts of information are best conveyed by an ambient display?
• What are examples of useful heuristics, frameworks, taxonomies, or design principles for implementation of ambient information?
• What, if any, are the appropriate interaction methods for these information devices?
• How can we best make use of existing technologies? (e.g. smart materials, wearable systems, etc.)
• How do we measure the impact of ambient information systems?
• What knowledge from other domains should we apply such systems? (e.g. art, cognitivescience, design, psychology, sociology)

The workshop format will consist of a short presentation by each participant, which should conclude with a problem statement relative to the workshop topics. These problem statements will be ordered, and the participants will decide which are most relevant to future research on ambient and subtle information systems. We will then break out into groups and discuss strategies for addressing the selected topics.

• Submissions due: Jan 26 2007 by 11:59pm PST
• Notifications by: Mar 2nd 2007
• Final version due: Mar 29th 2007 by 11:59pm PST

We invite submissions including descriptions of works in progress, research contributions, position statements and demonstrations. Submissions should attempt to address one or more of the aforementioned questions regarding the design and evaluation of ambient information technologies.

Submissions should be 4 to 6 pages long in ACM SIGCHI Proceedings format. Each submission must conclude with a specific question regarding issues faced conducting research in this domain.

Please send you submission in PDF format to: whazlewo [at] indiana dot edu.

Link: http://informatics.indiana.edu/subtletech/