Designing More Robust Ubiquitous Systems

This paper addresses the issue of uncertainty in ubiquitous computing applications, from a user's perspective. It exposes the difficulties users meet for recovering from system errors (recognition, perception and interpretation errors). It shows that in ubiquitous computing, error handling difficulty is exacerbated by systems characteristics such as the unobtrusiveness and the invisibility of the devices, and the users' lack of control and awareness about the pervasive environment. The paper then discusses how adapting good interface design practices to ubiquitous computing applications can improve their robustness to system errors. Good practices include adopting a more user-centred design approach, providing a system image, and making ubiquitous applications more predictable in order to facilitate the emergence of adequate user mental models.