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SIREN: Mediated Informal Communication for Serendipity

Authors:
Nikolaos Batalas
Hester Bruikman
Dominika Turzynska
Vanesa Vakili
Natalia Voynarovskaya
Panos Markopoulos

Keywords: human-centered computing; wireless sensor net- works; serendipity

Abstract:
The process of education and innovation often in- volves individuals, whose expertise lies in diverse fields. Informal communication amongst them can prove to be invaluable towards their collaboration, but rarely does it extend beyond one’s already established social circle. This paper proposes SIREN, a system, which makes use of sensor nodes to detect encounters between colleagues in their workplace, as they undertake their daily tasks and spreads information virally from one to another. The aim is to introduce a channel of informal communication that is not disruptive to their routine. We developed a system prototype and conducted a field test to detemine whether the premise of encounter-based information sharing offers any added value over information sharing without discrimenation, amongst users in the same work setting. The results indicate that SIREN can help break down barriers and promote subsequent direct communication between users.

Pages: 397 to 405

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2010

Publication date: October 25, 2010

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4278

ISBN: 978-1-61208-100-7

Location: Florence, Italy

Dates: from October 25, 2010 to October 30, 2010