The F@ Framework of Designing Awareness Mechanisms in Instant Messaging

This paper presents our research on awareness support in Instant Messaging (IM). The paper starts with a brief overview of empirical study of IM, using an online survey and face-to-face interviews to identify user needs for awareness support. The study identified a need for supporting four aspects of awareness, awareness of multiple concurrent conversations, conversational awareness, presence awareness of a group conversation, and visibility of moment-to-moment listeners and viewers. Based on the empirical study and existing research on awareness, we have developed the F@ (read as fat) framework of awareness. F@ comprises of the abstract level and the concrete level. The former includes an in-depth description of various awareness aspects in IM, whilst the latter utilises temporal logic to formalise fundamental time-related awareness aspects. F@ helps developers gain a better understanding of awareness and thereby design usable mechanisms to support awareness. Applying F@, we have designed several mechanisms to support various aspect of awareness in IM

Study and Redesign of a Semi-public Display: Online Enlightenment

Semi-public displays are systems designed to strengthen awareness and collaboration among small co-located group environments. Placed in a semi-public space, Online Enlightenment is a physical device associated with MSN® Messenger to provide information regarding the online status of peers. The raison d'être of the system is to leverage group members’ awareness of their peers’ availability through changes of their online status in order to facilitate meeting scheduling, promote opportunistic collaboration, and foster project teamwork without introducing distraction. At an early stage of the development process, this paper presents the results of a usability study of the system and proposes a redesigned mock-up to address the identified deficiencies

Handheld fast-track feedback instant messaging

As mobile devices and networks become more data-centric, text messaging requires an extension of co-presence capabilities for better interactive discussion between input/output handicapped handheld users and their free form desktop counterparts. Given some degree of co-presence (online presence and awareness) in text-based Instant Messaging, we hope to increase this co-presence on a handheld with fast-track feedback (FF) mechanisms. These are user-defined gestures, such as emoticons, and prioritised messages. We are building a system that facilitates gesture input within an interactive text-based chat over a wireless network running Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The chat bridges a robust desktop environment and a small number of handhelds. This work in progress looks into the SIP Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions as a platform to provide fast-track interactive and co-presence feedback. The aim is to rubberise a hitherto plastic and limited instant messaging conversation. We shall measure co-presence levels between FF and standard IM environments in and without desktop and handhelds by engaging two groups of users in chats session. We expect to demonstrate that there exists high co-presence notion in open (work by Sun Research Awarenex Group and AT&T Hubbubme in similar domain were in closed systems) FF text messaging open environment as we would like to show that this higher presence brings a much more enhanced interactive discourse. The envisaged results are intended to extrapolate to online aware co-presence in the up and coming smart phones on 3G packet networks.Telkom, Cisco, THRI

Instant Messaging on handhelds: affective feedback

A text only Instant Messaging (IM) built on the IETF open standard SIP/SIMPLE has been developed in line with our proposed introduction of a user-defined text Hotkey feature. These act as an on-click Affective Gesture (AG): in similitude to Face-to-Face (F2F) expressive gesture-like abilities. Given that text communication possesses expressive discourse with some presence level, we seek to show that one-click text-gesture fast-tracking enhances text communication further. For this study, we are taking a hybrid quantitative and qualitative approach. Initial Pre-trial results have shown that an AG approach is more likely to improve IM chat spontaneity/response rate. Further experimental trials are being undertaken. Mobile devices and networks are becoming more data-centric (evident in Japanese I-mode) even as mobile network voice Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) are declining, new stream of data services are required which must take cognisance of handhelds features albeit their small screen estate and input/output limitation. Given that IM is entrenched in the social space, especially among teenagers and gaining wide adoption in the business place, we believe extensions are required for IM steep uptake in the mobile world, much as SMS has gained prominence. Enhanced input mechanisms for handheld IM system are expected to increase co-presence between handheld users and their desktop-based counterparts while in a synchronous discussion.Telkom, Cisco, THRI

Reinforcing The Status Quo in Organizations Through Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM)

Background: The usage of mobile instant messaging (MIM) applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram in an organization has become increasingly popular. Unfortunately, studies on the phenomenon, especially its impact on organizations, such as power distribution, have been scarce. Thus, this study asks, how does MIM technology affect power distribution in an organization? The objectives are twofold. The first is to determine how the MIM technology altered the distribution of power in an organization. The second is to identify why a collaborative tool intended for social use can have a profound impact on power relations in an organization. Method: This case study involved interviews with twenty-one participants through six group interview sessions. The management selected the participants based on the study requirements. The interview participants were selected from different levels of the organization’s hierarchy that use MIM actively in managing work. Results: The findings suggest that increased use of MIM for many activities, such as delivering instructions and monitoring work progress, has had a profound effect on power distribution. The findings suggest that the implementation of MIM in managing work reinforces the status quo of top management through the congregation of employees, forced commitment, and the illusion of consensus. Conclusions: MIM can reinforce the power of the top management over the rest by extending its reach to all levels in the organization. Findings from this study add to the existing knowledge on the relationship between power and information systems (IS) and power relations and MIM. Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/pajais/vol12/iss3/4

Affective gesture feedback Instant Messaging on handhelds

Mobile devices and mobile networks are becoming more data-centric (evident in Japanese I-mode) even as mobile network voice Average Revenue Per User are declining, new stream of data services are required which must take cognisance of handhelds features albeit their small screen estate and input/output limitations. A text only Instant Messaging (IM) built on the Internet Engineering Task Force open standard Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) has been developed in line with our novel introduction of a user-defined text Hotkey feature. Given that text communication possesses expressive discourse with some presence level, we seek to show that one-click text-gesture fast-tracking enhances text communication further. For this study, we are taking a hybrid quantitative and qualitative approach. Initial results have shown that an Affective Gesture approach is more likely to improve IM chat spontaneity/response rate. Enhanced input mechanisms for handheld IM system are expected to increase co-presence between handheld users and their desktop-based counterparts while in a synchronous discussion.Telkom, Cisco, THRIPDepartment of HE and Training approved lis

Mobile University Notification System Using Jabber Protocol

This progress report consists of sections, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results & Discussion and Conclusion. For the Introduction section includes the project's background, problem statement, objectives and scope of work. In the Literature Review section consist of results from literature gathering from various sources like articles, journals or the Internet. The section is divided to Introduction, Problem Statement, Current Implementation/Related Works and Support. For the Methodology section consist of the project's proposed methodology or how the project will be conducted. The project is using the Waterfall Methodology. For the Results & Discussion section consist of the previous activities conducted for the project and their end results. Finally the Conclusion section will include the final conclusion for this interim

V-CHAT - Versatile Chat

We focus our research on text based messaging systems and the impact they have when they are implemented in a work structure and how this kind of software can improve workflow and interaction between firms and clients both in B2B and B2C relations. In recent years many online text chat systems have been developed and use. Internet Relay Chat or IRC, ICQ, AOL and MSN are some examples of the most popular tools for real-time communications via the Internet and have been used both for doing serious work, decision making and for entertainment purpose. Messaging programs tend to imitate each other and they imitate other chat programs either. Each new release simply adds new features that keep the use of this software nothing but a cheaper alternative to phone. Nowadays Instant Messaging, chat system and video conference software must evolve and specialize into something more flexible, sophisticated and secure