Exploring the Mobile Interaction with Large Information Spaces within Mixed Reality Environments: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

Increasingly powerful mobile devices like the Apple iPhone allow users to access digital artifacts (e.g. media files) efficiently while being on the move. Although such devices are technically capable of browsing even large information spaces, their small form factors limit the efficient use of traditional user interfaces. Mapping an information space to the physical space and utilizing mobile devices as spatially aware displays allows for the physical navigation of the information space and therefore reduces complexity. However, previous research has not focused on how users actually interact with such immersive, dynamic representations of the information space in mobile settings. The paper contributes (1) a qualitative, exploratory study on the interaction design of such applications, (2) a theoretical foundation derived from the analysis of the study results based on grounded theory and (3) design implications for future applications.