Leisure Time in Tokyo: Mobile Phones, Mobile Media, and Mobile Fun a Brain Jam talk at Y!RB by Ame Elliott August 22nd, 2006

Summary: Ame Elliot's group did sociological research, followd by a series of field experiments in Tokyo to create empathy with mobile device end-users.

Initial Research Questions

• What tools are used to plan leisure outings?
• What resources are used to plan leisure outings?
• What is the structure of leisure outings?
• What modern technologies support leisure practices?

Tokyo is a very vertical city

• Many entities associated with one street address
• Very safe (4-5 year olds on public transit alone!)
• Highly mobile
  • Lots of commute time

Methods

• Background Research
• Naturalistic Observations
  • shadowing
  • impromptu interviews
• Two survey and Two in-depth interviews
  • leisure resources
  • planning practice
• Three Focus Gropus
• One "geek" evaluation gropu
• Leisure Diary

First findings

• Refinement of target group
  • 16-33 -> 18-25
  • Extremes had no free time (school or career)
  • 18-25 called "Golden Years"
  • These are formative years for ideas and style!
• Top planning resources
  • Friends/Family
  • TV
  • PC-based internet
• Lowest-used
  • Mobile WWW
    • ease of use issues
    • proprietary content control
  • News papers
  • Printed leisure guides
• Most Popular Leisure
  • Stay-in
    • WWW/Email (PC)
    • Mobile Messaging
    • TV
    • Music
  • Go-Out
    • Shopping
    • Go-out with friends

Discussion

• Trends
  • Relaxing
  • Community building and maintenance (friends)
  • Shopping
• People have very full schedules, and in transit a lot
• Most sleep <8 hrs
• Down time is essential
• Often desire to relax at home
  • Passive entertainmnt
• Physical alone, but logically hyperconnceted
  • Cultural norm: MUST answer phone/respond to message
  • Frequent messaging fights lonliness
• Planning trends
  • Serendipity is key
    • Effortless discovery
    • "Let's get together and then figure out what to do"
  • Tends to be a single planner
  • Common goals
    • Minimize average commute
    • Maximize options
    • One specific "plan"
    • Serendipitous "follow-up" actions
      • Example: Let's go to a movie, and then go to dinner or drinks or whatever
  • Group size 4-6 people

Three Design Issues

• Competition to Inform Leisure
  • Space is crowded
  • People want personalization and reccomendation
• Overloading Mobile Phone
  • Want small phone
  • Want big display
  • Multi purpose
  • Ease of use
• Carrying Lots of Things Already

Summary: Supporting Leisure Planning

• Sociality is Central
  • Companionship
  • Maintain privacy
  • Personal Recommendations
  • Manners
• Don't Make Me Work
  • Relaxing is a priority
  • Coordinating is difficult
  • Passive accumulation of information throughout the day

End Notes

• Notable Dichotomies
  • Planning on PC, Coordination on Phone
  • Chronic planner vs. chornic participater
• Connecting PC-Phone doesn't happen much
• Location awareness not really used