Observing the mobile music phenomenon: one in nine commuters is wired

In this study we attempt to quantify the popularity of mobile music device utilization. We present an observational method to study music interaction in the wild and assess the reliability of the method. We apply this method to investigate mobile music device use regionally and globally in Europe, Asia, and North America. Our results show that globally, a stable one ninth of all observed urban commuters is engaged with music gadgets, in Tokyo above the other cities. In depth analysis shows that public displays of music devices are most common late on the working days. A subsample of bicyclists suggests that they utilize music devices even more than the pedestrians, but none of the observed segments is much interacting with the device while in transit. This has several implications for designing ubiquitous music experiences, particularly for modalities utilized in interaction. ACM Classification Keywords H5.m. Information interfaces and presentation: Miscellaneous. H.5.5 Sound and Musi...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: ACMDIS
• Authors: Lassi A. Liikkanen, Mikko Lahdensuo
• Keywords: ACMDIS 2010, Human Computer Interaction, Mobile Music Device, Music Devices, Music Interaction