Publics in practice

TLDR

Mobile phones, once status symbols, are now integral to social and economic participation in Western society, yet many groups still lack extensive access. The study aimed to design, build, and deploy a ubiquitous computing system for staff and residents at a shelter for homeless mothers. The system links mobile phones, a shared display, and a web application to keep staff and residents connected. During a 30‑week deployment, the system was widely adopted, substantially improving shelter life and illustrating the broader potential of socio‑technical systems at the intersection of social action and organizational coordination.

Abstract

Today, commodity technologies like mobile phones - once symbols of status and wealth - have become deeply woven into social and economic participation in Western society. Despite the pervasiveness of these technologies, there remain groups who may not have extensive access to them but who are nonetheless deeply affected by their presence in everyday life. In light of this, we designed, built, and deployed a ubiquitous computing system for one such overlooked group: the staff and residents at a shelter for homeless mothers. Our system connects mobile phones, a shared display, and a Web application to help staff and residents stay connected. We report on the adoption and use of this system over the course of a 30 week deployment, discussing the substantial impact our system had on shelter life and the broader implications for such socio-technical systems that sit at the juncture of social action and organizational coordination.