This talk was given at the PSU Web Conference 2013. Not so many years ago, prevailing wisdom extolled the uniqueness of the mobile user context. This drove the creation of curated, mobile-specific user experiences such as m-dot sites and native mobile apps. In the past couple of years, the favor of the web community has swung sharply away from these mobile-specific experiences and toward responsive web design, predicated on the idea that all users want access to the same content and functionality, organized and accessed in the same way, regardless of what device they're using. It's a compelling concept backed by smart, inventive, future-aware techniques. However, focusing on technique alone makes it easy to lose sight of the human user in the real world. We were wrong in the past to speak of the mobile context as though it were monolithic, simple, and deterministic. But we're just as wrong today to ignore the ways in which user contexts can drive meaningful differences in user needs, expectations, and behaviors. In this session, we'll examine the physical, technological, mental, and social dimensions that define a range of mobile contexts, and how they argue for a broader and more flexible approach to engaging with our users.

1. The Mobile Context is Dead.
Long Live Mobile Contexts!
#PSUWeb13 : June 7, 2013
Eric Kim @huafi
Modo Labs : modolabs.com

2. v

3. 3

4. 4

5. 5

8. 8

10. New way to get something we need
Portable and usable one-handed
High density of useful stuff
Designed for:
Easy consumption
Quick digestion
Immediate usefulness on the go
Fast, broad adoption

12. 12

14. “The importance of comprehending
context – circumstances and conditions
that surround a place, thing, or event –
within the mobile environment cannot
be overstated.
Your content is of little value to users if
it ignores the context in which it is
viewed, manipulated, and processed.”
– Cameron Moll

16. 16

19. Mobilization Mobile
Optimization
Prioritize parity Prioritize efficiency

20. Mobilization
20
Mobile
Optimization
Prioritize parity Prioritize efficiency
Responsive Server-side
Deliver the same content
regardless of device
Deliver content optimized
for the type of device
Format to fit at the
point of display
Optimize at the
point of delivery

21. CLIENT-SIDE
RESPONSIVE
MOBILIZATION
SERVER-SIDE
MOBILE
OPTIMIZATION
RWD
Responsive
Web Design
RESS
Responsive design
+ Server-Side
components
Kurogo
mobile
framework
MIT
mobile web
SSO
Server-Side
Optimization

23. NO

24. http://umami.tv

26. Mobile interactions tend to be…
Bursty
Spontaneous
Simultaneous
Actionable
Varied by device
On ‘found time’

27. Contextual factors

28. Physical:
Are you in a mobile
place?

29. Mental:
Are you in a mobile
frame of mind?

30. Technological:
You are on a mobile
device and network.

31. Social:
How does your mobile
interaction fit into your
interpersonal setting?

32. Physical
Mental
Technological
Social

33. WARNING:
Completely unscientific
visualizations ahead
33

34. Outside and/or
in motion
On the go

35. Outside and/or
in motion
Indoors and
stationary
On the go
Simultaneous
Social Spontaneous

36. Outside and/or
in motion
Indoors and
stationary
On the go
Simultaneous
Interstitial
Social Spontaneous

37. Outside and/or
in motion
Indoors and
stationary
On the go
Simultaneous
Interstitial
Social Spontaneous
Divided attention, shorter interactions

38. “one eyeball, one thumb”

39. “Whether you're on a crowded
street corner or on the couch
watching TV, chances are you're
giving your phone just some of
your attention. It's also quite likely
that attention doesn't last long.”
– Luke Wroblewski

42. CLIENT-SIDE
RESPONSIVE
MOBILIZATION
SERVER-SIDE
MOBILE
OPTIMIZATION
RWD
Responsive
Web Design
RESS
Responsive design
+ Server-Side
components
Kurogo
mobile
framework
MIT
mobile web
SSO
Server-Side
Optimization

43. http://mimiandeunice.com

44. http://glass.google.com

45. https://developers.google.com/glass/ui-guidelines

46. https://developers.google.com/glass/

48. http://blog.flurry.com/bid/95723

49. #BADA55

50. technique strategy≠

51. Eric Kim @huafi
Modo Labs : modolabs.com
Thank you