A diary study of understanding contextual information needs during leisure traveling

Abstract

The lack of knowledge about users' information needs will likely impede the applicability of mobile applications to more effectively support users' contextual search behavior. In this paper, we present results from a well-conducted diary study that aimed to learn persons' mobile information needs during their leisure traveling. The analysis of above 200 diary entries of subjects' information needs interestingly suggests question types, intents and topics that these needs exhibited. Moreover, the study reveals respective roles of different context factors, such as location, time and activity, in influencing and prompting users' information needs. Design implications are concluded at the end to show the insights of this study to improve current mobile services.