Understanding geocaching practices and motivations

Geocaching is a location-based activity that has been practiced for a number of years. As a sustained and established activity it represents an important opportunity for understanding everyday practices and motivations that can build up around a location-based activity. We present findings from a field study of everyday geocaching behaviour. In contrast to previous work, we take a broad perspective on the activity focussing beyond the in situ consumption of these experiences. We look, too, at the practices and motivations surrounding participants' creation of these experiences. Further, we examine these behaviours within the social context of the on-line community that provides a significant basis for many of these behaviours. We use the findings to discuss broader implications for location-based experiences. Author Keywords Geocache, location-based computing, GPS (Global Positioning System), diary study, interviews. ACM Classification Keywords H5.m. Information interfaces and pr...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Kenton O'Hara
• Keywords: CHI 2008, Human Computer Interaction, Location-based Activity, Location-based Computing, Location-based Experiences