Exploring the design and use of peripheral displays of awareness information

Abstract

Peripheral displays allow users to monitor an information source while focusing on a separate primary task. In this paper, we present our work investigating what form peripheral displays of awareness information from instant messaging programs may take and the role these displays could have in existing communication practices. We describe several prototypes of tangible, aesthetic displays of awareness information. A focus group involving users of instant messaging software revealed that the awareness information component of the software (such as sounds or flashing windows) is often used to trigger communication through more heavyweight means such as telephone or face-to-face conversation.