Understanding Tablet Use: A Multi-Method Exploration
Venue
Proceedings of the 14th Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services (Mobile HCI 2012), ACM
Publication Year
2012
Authors
Hendrik Müller, Jennifer L. Gove, John S. Webb
BibTeX
Abstract
Tablet ownership has grown rapidly over the last year. While market research
surveys have helped us understand the demographics of tablet ownership and provided
early insights into usage, there is little comprehensive research available. This
paper describes a multi-method research effort that employed written and video
diaries, in-home interviews, and contextual inquiry observations to learn about
tablet use across three locations in the US. Our research provides an in-depth
picture of frequent tablet activities (e.g., checking emails, playing games, social
networking), locations of use (e.g., couch, bed, table), and contextual factors
(e.g., watching TV, eating, cooking). It also contributes an understanding of why
and how people choose to use tablets. Popular activities for tablet use, such as
media consumption, shopping, cooking, and productivity are also explored. The
findings from our research provide design implications and opportunities for
enriching the tablet experience, and agendas for future research.
