Next Generation Instant Messaging: Communication, Coordination, and Privacy for Mobile, Multimodal, and Location-Aware Devices

该项目旨在回答有关开发下一代即时消息的几个基本问题，这些问题是健壮的，隐私敏感的，并且易于人们适应他们的生活。三种技术趋势为扩展和重新定义即时消息提供了一个非凡的机会。通过将（1）移动的设备与（2）多模式通信和（3）定位技术相结合，下一代即时消息（NGIM）可以为更多种类的人在更广泛的情况下提供比今天更丰富的通信和更好的协调。例如，使用NGIM，一个人可以轻松地与另一个人共享实时位置信息，然后他们可以在地图上绘制，显示他们移动时的位置，从而更容易进行微协调。因此，本研究的一个重点是设计，实施和评估一系列新的互动技术，以促进沟通和协调，以及开发技术基板支持这些interactions.However，一个固有的问题，即时消息，特别是与定位技术，是隐私的问题。隐私可能是这些无处不在的计算服务长期成功的最大障碍。人们可以想象许多关于个人位置或可用性的信息被滥用的场景，例如雇主和雇员之间，过度热心的父母和独立思想的青少年之间，以及关注安全的政府和关注公民权利的公民之间。因此，这项研究的另一个重点是设计，实施和评估系统架构和用户界面，将最大限度地提高下一代即时消息的真实的好处，同时最大限度地减少可预见的潜在风险和紧张局势。这项研究的结果将影响定位增强应用程序（以及它们所使用的设备）的系统架构和用户界面，有助于使它们更加有用，可用和隐私敏感。它们还可以帮助催化和推动位置增强服务的采用，这是一个具有巨大潜力的有前途的领域。这项工作还着眼于如何帮助父母双方都工作的双职工家庭，促进家庭内部在儿童保育等重要问题上的沟通和协调。该项目还将有助于指导本科生和研究生。

This project seeks to answer several basic questions about developing next-generation instant messaging in a manner that is robust, privacy-sensitive, and easy for people to appropriate into their lives. Three technological trends are providing a remarkable opportunity for extending and reconceptualizing instant messaging. By combining (1) mobile devices with (2) multimodal communication and (3) location technologies, next-generation instant messaging (NGIM) can provide richer communication and better coordination, for more kinds of people, in a wider range of situations, than is possible today. For example, using NGIM, one person can easily share real-time location information with another, who could then draw on top of a map that shows both their locations as they move, making it easier to micro-coordinate. Thus, one thrust of this research is to design, implement, and evaluate a range of novel interaction techniques for facilitating communication and coordination, as well as developing the technological substrates for supporting these interactions.However, a problem inherent to instant messaging, and especially with location technologies, is the issue of privacy. Privacy is perhaps the greatest barrier to the long-term success of these kinds of ubiquitous computing services. One can imagine numerous scenarios where information about one's location or availability is abused, for example between employers and employees, between overzealous parents and independent-minded teens, and between governments concerned with safety and citizens concerned about civil rights. Thus, another thrust of this research is to design, implement, and evaluate both system architectures and user interfaces that will maximize the real benefit of next-generation instant messaging, while minimizing foreseeable potential risks and tensions. The results from this line of research will influence system architectures and user interfaces for location-enhanced applications (and the devices they are on), helping to make them more useful, usable, and privacy-sensitive. They could also help catalyze and drive adoption of location-enhanced services, a promising area with a great amount of potential. This work also looks at how to help dual-career families where both parents work, facilitate communication and coordination within families about such important issues as child care. The project will also contribute to the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.