Understanding the intent behind mobile information needs

Abstract

Mobile phones are becoming increasingly popular as a means of information access while on-the-go. Mobile users are likely to be interested in locating different types of content. However, the mobile space presents a number of key challenges, many of which go beyond issues with device characteristics such as screen-size and input capabilities. In particular, changing contexts such as location, time, activity and social interactions are likely to impact on the types of information needs that arise. In order to offer personalized, effective mobile services we need to understand mobile users in more detail. Thus we carried out a four-week diary study of mobile information needs, looking in particular at the goal/intent behind mobile information needs, the topics users are interested in and the impact of mobile contexts such as location and time on user needs.

Breaking the habit: Measuring and predicting departures from routine in individual human mobility

“…These results are in accordance with the findings by Church and Smyth [33], who used diary studies to show that ''many users have a variety of information needs when they are away from their familiar contexts''. However, our work goes further by providing a quantitative way to characterise the familiarity of these contexts.…”

Integrating social features into mobile local search

“…Mobile users tend to locate different types of content while on the go ( Google, 2016a ). Local services, points of interest (POIs) and driving directions are some of the most popular mobile information needs of the users ( Church and Smyth, 2009;Sohn et al, 2008;Teevan et al, 2011;Kamvar and Baluja, 2006;Google, 2016a ). Location information on the mobile devices has enabled people to use mobile local search services as 30% of all mobile searches are reported to be related to location ( Google, 2016b ).…”

Exploring social context in mobile information behavior

“…In a recent study of "just-in-time" information behaviors, 27% and 41% of those sampled indicated they used their mobile phones to settle an argument or coordinate a social gathering, respectively, within the past month (Rainie & Fox, 2012). Further, mobile search is often conducted in the presence of others (Church & Oliver, 2011;Amin, Setlur, Xi, Hayashi & Hong, 2009;Teevan, Karlson, Amini, Brush & Krumm, 2011), and searches may be socially motivated (Rahmati & Zhong, 2012) or prompted by conversations (Church & Smyth, 2009;Sohn et al, 2008).…”