Privacy and proportionality: adapting legal evaluation techniques to inform design in ubiquitous computing

We argue that an analytic proportionality assessment balancing usefulness and burden on individual or group privacy must be conducted throughout the design process to create acceptable ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) applications and services. We introduce the principle of proportionality, which originates within the legal and data protection communities. Inspired by this principle, we develop a design method for ubicomp applications, based on our own experience, and aimed at HCI practitioners and designers. We discuss the method in relation to real-world examples, user inquiry techniques and requirements engineering models. Finally, we report a sample application of the method, involving a ubiquitous, personal memory aid tool. Categories & Subject Descriptors: D.2.2 [Software Engineering]: Design Tools and Techniques; K.4.1 [Computers And Society]: Public Policy Issues ? Privacy; D.2.1 [Software Engineering]: Requirements/Specifications General Terms: Design, Legal Aspects.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Giovanni Iachello, Gregory D. Abowd
• Keywords: Acceptable Ubiquitous Computing, Analytic Proportionality Assessment, CHI 2005, Human Computer Interaction, Ubicomp Applications