Evaluating ubicomp applications in the field Gregory D

Evaluating ubicomp applications in the field Gregory D. Abowd, Distinguished Professor School of Interactive Computing and GVU Center, Georgia Tech

Ubicomp evaluation in the field • Weiser (CACM 93): “Applications are of course the whole point of ubiquitous computing. ” – Applications are about the real world • Design: finding appropriate ubicomp solutions for real-world problems. • Evaluation: Demonstrating that a solution works for its intended purpose. • But these activities are intertwined. Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Defining evaluation terms • Formative and Summative • Who is involved in evaluation • Empirical, Quantitative, and Qualitative Evidence • Approaches to evaluation Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Formative and Summative Formative –assess a system being designed –gather input to inform design Summative –assess an existing system –Summary judgement of success criteria Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial • Which to use? –Depends on • maturity of system • how evaluation results will be used –Same technique can be used for either

Who is involved with evaluation? • End users, or other stakeholders • The designers or HCI experts Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Form of data gathered Empirical: based on evidence from real users Quantitative: objective measurement of behavior Qualitative: subjective recording of experience Mixed methods: a combination of quant and qual Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Approach • Predictive modeling • Controlled experiment • Naturalistic study Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Predictive Modeling • Try to predict usage before real users are involved • Conserve resources (quick & low cost) • Model based – Calculate properties of interaction – Fitts’ Law, Keystroke Level Model • Review based – HCI experts (not real users) interact with system, find potential problems, and give prescriptive feedback – Best if they: • Haven’t used earlier prototype • Familiar with domain or task • Understand user perspectives Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Controlled experimentation Lab studies, quantitative results – Typically in a closed, lab setting – Manipulate independent variables to see effect on dependent variables – Replicable – Expensive, requires real users and lab – Can use follow-up interviews for qualitative results Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Naturalistic Study Or the field study – Observation occurs in “real life” setting – Watch process over time – “Ecologically valid” contends with controlled and “scientific” – What is observed can vary tremendously We will focus on this form of evaluation Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Why is this so hard? Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Some examples of ubicomp technologies in the field HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Examples of field studies • Xerox PARC – PARCTab – Liveboard • Georgia Tech – Classroom 2000 – Digital Family Portrait – Personal Audio Loop – Abaris, Care. Log and Baby. Steps – Cellphone proximity – SMS for asthma Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Xerox PARC • Computing at different scales – Inch – Foot – Yard • They were pretty successful at inch and yard scales with two very different approaches to evaluation Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Xerox PARC inch scale • The PARCTab – Location-aware thin client – Deployed in CSL building • Built devices and programmable context -awareness • Gave it to community to see what they would produce Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Xerox PARC yard scale • The Liveboard – Pen-based electronic whiteboard – Deployed in one meeting room • Designed solution for IP meetings – Supporting work of one individual Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Georgia Tech Classroom 2000 • The Liveboard in an educational setting • Establishing theme of automated capture • Room takes notes on behalf of student • 4 -year study of impact on teaching and learning experience. • The living laboratory Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Georgia Tech Aware Home • What value is it to have a home that knows where its occupants are and what they are doing? • A living laboratory? – Great for feasibility studies and focus groups – Never anyone’s “home” Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Georgia Tech Digital Family Portrait • Great example of a formative study done in the wild • Sensing replaced by phone calls • Similar to Intel Research Care. Net Display Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Georgia Technology and Autism • Ubicomp got very personal for me in 2002 • Improving data collection Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

From whimsical to inspirational…Dec. 1998 Aidan, 18 months

From whimsical to inspirational…July 1999 Aidan, 26 months

Detailed Scoring Manual Calculations Hand Plotting

Abaris: Embedding Capture Leverages basic therapy protocol to minimize intrusion Speech detection to timestamp beginning of trial Record handwriting using Anoto digital pen to collect grades and timestamp end of trial Julie Kientz, Ph. D.

Abaris: Embedding Access Julie Kientz 3/9/2021

Abaris: Study • 4 month real use deployment study – Case Study: Therapy team for one child • 52 therapy sessions (50+ hours of video) • 6 team meetings • Data collected – Video coding and analysis of team decisions during sampled meetings • Meetings without Abaris: 39 decision points across 3 meetings • Meetings with Abaris: 42 decision points across 3 meetings – Interviews with team members – Software logging of Abaris Full study details: Chapter 5 Julie A. Kientz, Georgia Tech 26

Results: Easier Data Capture • Therapists were able to learn to use the Abaris system with very quick training • Therapists spent less time processing paperwork 27 Julie A. Kientz, Georgia Tech

Results: Access to Data Percentage of decision points in which a given artifact was used. Oftentimes, therapists used multiple artifacts. Artifacts %Without Abaris %With Abaris Video* 0. 0 45. 2 Graphs 56. 0 81. 9 Data sheets** 20. 5 45. 2 Therapy samples* 0. 0 19. 0 Reenactment 0. 0 4. 8 Memory 92. 3 83. 3 Ext. Observations 25. 6 21. 4 Therapist Notes** 5. 1 19. 0 * p <. 01 ** p <. 05 For full details, see Chapter 5 Julie A. Kientz, Georgia Tech 28

Results: Improving Collaboration p <. 01 Analysis of decision points in team meetings indicated an increase in collaboration n n Interviews with therapists after meeting confirmed these numbers For full details, see Chapter 5 29 Julie A. Kientz, Georgia Tech

Gillian Hayes (with Gillian Hayes (GT), Juane Heflin (Georgia State), Cobb County Special Ed. and Behavior Imaging Solutions, Inc. ) Collecting rich behavioral data in the unstructured natural environment Retroactively saving important video Conscious selection of relevant video episodes

After-the fact capture and annotation

Examples of field studies • Xerox PARC – PARCTab – Liveboard • Georgia Tech – Classroom 2000 – Digital Family Portrait – Personal Audio Loop – Abaris, Care. Log and Baby. Steps – Cellphone proximity – SMS for asthma Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Others • Intel Research – Care. Net Display – Reno – Ubi. Fit, Ubi. Garden • EQUATOR – Mixed reality games Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

Lessons from our ancestors • Evaluation takes time – The experience of ubicomp does not come overnight – The “abowd” unit of evaluation; nothing substitutes for real use • Bleeding edge technology means people must keep system afloat – The users cannot be expected or bothered with installation or maintenance (C 2 K) Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

More lessons • Sometimes you want to evaluate in the field without any working system – The idea of experience prototypes (or paratypes), or humans as sensors Evaluation in the field, Gregory D. Abowd, Ubicomp 2011 Tutorial

3 Types of Field Studies (Ch. 4 by Brush) • Or, why do the study? • In somewhat chronological order: – Understand current behavior – Proof of concept – Experience using a prototype 36

Understanding Behavior Insight into current practice, baseline of behaviors – To inform new designs – To use as comparison at some later date • Brush and Inkpen (2007) • Patel et al. (2006) 37

Proof of Concept Bleeding-edge prototypes but not in the lab. • Context-Aware Power Management (2007) • Team. Awear (2007) 38

Experience Prolonged use that is not about feasibility of the technology, but about the impact on the everyday experience. • Care. Net (2004) • Advanced User Resource Annotation 39

Study Design • Data collection techniques – Surveys, interviews, field notes, logging/instrumentation, experience sampling, diaries • How long should the study be? – The “abowd” as a unit of time for a field study. 40

Participants • Ethics • Selection of the right participants • Number of participants • Compensation 41

Analysis of data • Quantitative data – Relevant statistical methods based on data collection • Qualitative data – Often unstructured and must be processed (or coded) to be understood analyzed further 42

Let’s reflect on the other readings… • Provide summary based on: – Type of study (Brush taxonomy) – What was its purpose? – How study was designed • Data to be collected, conditions of study, number and kind of participants, length of study – How results were analyzed – Did the study meet its purpose? 43