Cast together: inclusive and unobtrusive mobile interactions with a situated display

Abstract

We describe our Cast Together prototype that demonstrates inclusive and unobtrusive mobile interactions with a situated display. The prototype consists of a mobile and web application, and a Google Chromecast connected to a situated display. An inclusive and unobtrusive experience is encouraged for co-located persons by sharing notifications on the display, allowing users to decide at a glance if an alert requires further attention, and sharing app launches provides others with insight into private smartphone interactions. Music and photo collections generated from social media profiles can project personalities without active engagement with a personal device. Profiles can be linked to physical objects with NFC tags, and the act of exploring collections can become a visible performance by explicitly scanning objects with the smartphone. Shared information can also be managed implicitly by hiding details when a user steps out of the room, or by reacting to a change of place. A user study with two colleagues in an office setting leads to initial insights with our Cast Together probe.