Interaction in Location-Aware Messaging in a City Environment

Location-aware messaging offers enormous possibilities as location tracking systems become more common and the amount of mobile services grow. The easiest way for application development would be to implement a general location-aware platformbuilding on existing infrastructures used for tracking and messaging. Such an approach has to take into account the limitations in location accuracy and interaction design. The critical issues for location-aware applications are end-user needs and acceptance, which are the factors that ultimately determinate success. In this study, we chart user expectations of location-aware push-messaging. We test and compare the design of user interfaces for location-aware applications. Important factors concerned are the accuracy of the tracking system and interaction methods, which take into account the special requirements imposed by mobile handheld devices. The approach is to confront the users with the limitation of such systems, testing the their expectations and acceptance of the system. The results suggest, that users are concerned about spam messages, and wish to have control over the content they receive in order to limit and personalise the incoming information flow. Finally, location-aware information related to personal notes and the scalability are the most commonly mentioned desirable features for the application.