Abstract
The mobile Internet—accessing the Internet via a mobile device—has become quite popular recently. The mobile Internet is mainly different from the stationary Internet because it may be used in various contexts, whereas the stationary Internet is mostly used in pre-determined environments. However, it is unclear when the mobile Internet is used most frequently, and in what context it is most useful. A greater understanding of the contexts for using the mobile Internet will relieve usability problems that mobile Internet users often encounter.
This paper proposes a conceptual framework of use contexts, which includes various facets of contexts related to the mobile Internet. It then presents the results of an exploratory study in which the use contexts for the mobile Internet and corresponding usability problems have been empirically monitored. The results indicate that use of the mobile Internet is heavily clustered around a few key contexts, rather than dispersed widely in diverse contexts. Moreover, different contexts are found to cause different kinds of usability problems. The paper ends with theoretical and practical implications of the study results.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anhalt J, Smailagic A, Siewiorek DP, Gemperle F, Salber D, Weber S, Beck J, Jennings J. Toward context-aware computing: Experiences and lessons learned. IEEE Journal on Intelligent Systems 2001;16(3):38–46.
Bies RJ, Tripp TM, Kramer RM. At the Breaking Point: Cognitive and Social Dynamics of Revenge in Organizations. In: Giacalone RA, Greenberg J eds., Antisocial Behavior in Organizations Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 1997:18–36.
Bhagwat P, Tripathi SK. Mobile Computing: A research perspective. In: Proceedings of Networks ‘94, Hungarian Scientific Society for Telecommunications, 1994:3–12.
Creativegood. The Wireless Customer Experience. 2000. From http://www.creativegood.com/
Chávez E, Ide R, Kirste T. Interactive applications of personal situation-aware assistants. Computers & Graphics 1999;23:903–915.
Chen G, Kotz D. A Survey of Context-aware Mobile Computing Research. Dartmouth Computer Science Technical Report. From http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/reports/abstracts/TR2000-381/
Dhar R, Wertenbroch K. Consumer choice between hedonic and utilitarian goods. Journal of Marketing Research 2000;37(1):61–71.
Dey AK. Understanding and using context. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing 2001;5:4–7.
Durlacher Research Ltd. Mobile Commerce Report. 2000. From http://www.durlacher.com/
Ebling MR, Satyanarayanan M. On the importance of translucence for mobile computing. In: Proceedings of the First Workshop on Human Computer Interaction for Mobile Devices, Glasgow: University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, 1998:73–78.
Federal Trade Commission. The Mobile Wireless Web, Data Services and Beyond. 2002. From http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/wireless/
Francis L. Mobile computing: A fact in your future. In: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual International Conference on Computer Documentation (SIGDOC ‘97). Salt Lake City, 1997:63–67.
Garrett JJ. The Elements of User Experience: User Centered Design for the Web. New York: New Riders Publishing, 2002.
Gessler S, Jesse K. Advanced location modeling to enable sophisticated LBS Provisioning in 3G networks. In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Location Modeling for Ubiquitous Computing, Atlanta, 2001. From http://www.teco.edu/locationws/9.pdf/
Gross T, Specht M. Awareness in context-aware information systems. In: Proceedings of Mensch & Computer 2001. Germany: Bad Honnef, 2001.
Gwizdka J. What’s in the context? Presented at Computer Human Interaction 2000 (CHI2000) Workshop: The What, Who, Where, Why and How of Context-Awareness. City, Netherlands, 2000.
Harrell GD, Hurt MD. Buyer Behavior under Conditions of Crowding: An Initial Framework. Advances in Consumer Research 1976;3:36–39.
Healey J, Picard RW. StartleCam: A Cybernetic Wearable Camera. In: Proceedings of IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers Pittsburgh, 1998:42–49.
Hoffman DL, Novak TP. Marketing in hypermedia computer-mediated environments: conceptual foundations. Journal of Marketing 1996;60(3):50–68.
Hui MK, Bateson JEG. Perceived control and effects of crowding and consumer choice on the service experience. Journal of Consumer Research 1991;18(2):174–184.
Kamba T, Elson SA, Harpold T, Stamper T, Sukaviriya P. Using small screen space more efficiently. In: Proceedings of the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems British Columbia, Canada, 1996:383–390.
Kim H, Kim J, Lee Y, Chae M, Choi Y. An empirical study of the use contexts and usability problems in mobile Internet. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-fifth Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Big Island, Hawaii: IEEE Computer Society Press, 2001.
Kristoffersen S, Ljungberg F. Making Places to Make IT Work: Empirical Explorations of HCI for mobile CSCW. In: Proceedings of the International SIGGROUP on Supporting Group Work 1999a:276–285.
Kristoffersen S, Ljungberg F. Mobile informatics: Innovation of IT use in mobile settings: IRIS’21 Workshop Report SIGCHI Bulletin 1999b;31(1):29–34.
Maguire M. Context of use within usability activities. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 2001;55:453–483.
Mehrabian A, Russell JA. An Approach to Environmental Psychology. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1974.
Menon S, Kahn B. Cross-category effects of induced arousal and pleasure on the Internet shopping experience. Journal of Retailing 2002;78(1):31–40.
Merrill Lynch. Internet@Korea: Hype is Over: Start Valuing Rationally, 2000.
Ministry of Information and Communication. Mobile Internet Survey, 2001. From http://www.mic.go.kr/
Pascoe J. Adding generic contextual capabilities to wearable computers. In: Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Wearable Computers. Pittsburgh, 1998:92–99.
Philippot P. Inducing and assessing differentiated emotional states in the laboratory. Cognition and Emotion 1993;7(2):171–193.
Rodden T, Cheverst K, Davies N, Dix A. Exploiting context in HCI design for mobile systems. In: Proceedings of the First Workshop on Human Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices, Glasgow: University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, 1998:10–11.
Rosenfeld L, Morville P. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. O’R eilly: Sebastopol, 1998:11–21.
Ryu H, Choi Y, Kim J. Do diverse physical contexts matter in mobile internet use? Korean Journal of Cognitive Science 2001;12(4):1–9.
Schmidt A, Beigl M, Gellersen H. There is more to context than location. Computer & Graphics 1999;23:893–901.
Seo S, Jung S. Perceived crowding’s influence on consumer’s shopping behavior. Korean Journal of Distribution Research 2000;5(1):23–32.
Siewiorek D. New frontiers of application design. Communications of the ACM 2002;45(12):88–91.
Spector PE, Fox S. An emotion-centered model of voluntary work behavior: Some parallels between counterproductive work behavior and organizational citizenship behavior. Human Resource Management Review 2002;12(2):269–292.
Wirtz J, Mattila AS, Tan RLP. The moderating role of target-arousal on the impact of affect on satisfaction: An examination in the context of service experiences. Journal of Retailing 2000;76(3):347–365.
Wodtke C. Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web. New York: New Riders Publishing, 2002.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, H., Kim, J. & Lee, Y. An Empirical Study of Use Contexts in the Mobile Internet, Focusing on the Usability of Information Architecture. Inf Syst Front 7, 175–186 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-005-1486-z
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-005-1486-z