From sit-forward to lean-back: Using a mobile device to vary interactive pace

Abstract

Although online, handheld, mobile computers offer new possibilities in searching and retrieving information on the go, the fast-paced, "sit-forward" style of interaction may not be appropriate for all user search needs. In this paper, we explore how a handheld computer can be used to enable interactive search experiences that vary in pace from fast and immediate through to reflective and delayed. We describe a system that asynchronously combines an offline handheld computer and an online desktop Personal Computer, and discuss some results of an initial user evaluation.