Easing the wait in the emergency room: building a theory of public information systems

In this paper we discuss a real world problem encountered during recent fieldwork: that of providing information in public settings when the information has both public and private components. We draw on our ethnographic studies in the waiting area of a busy hospital Emergency department. Despite evidence that lack of information can lead to stress, problem behaviours and poor levels of satisfaction with treatment, little information was made available to patients. We review the types of information needed and propose how the theoretical concepts of public, social and private information spheres relate to public spaces such as the Emergency department waiting area. We argue how the further theoretical concept of interaction spaces may be used in conjunction with these information spheres to inform interaction design for public settings. Categories and Subject Descriptors: H.5.2 Information interfaces and presentation: User Interfaces – Theory and

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: ACMDIS
• Authors: Eamonn O'Neill, Dawn Woodgate, Vassilis Kostakos
• Keywords: ACMDIS 2004, Information, Public Settings, Waiting Area