Cross-device interaction with large displays in public: insights from both users' and observers' perspectives

1Using a mixture of physical gestures and one's smartphone is a convenient way for people to engage and interact with large displays in public. Yet, one of the challenges of cross-device interactions is to design techniques that encourage participation. This paper presents a study of people using four different cross-device interaction techniques in a public setting, to identify how both users and observers feel about the device actions and bodily gestures required to interact with a large display using smartphones. We collected both direct feedback and observational data of users' and observers' attitudes and reactions to using these techniques in public. We identified five key factors influencing people's experience of interacting while being observed by others: Familiarity, Social Acceptability, Purpose, Easiness and Playfulness. We argue that it is important to consider observer attitudes when designing cross-device interactions for large displays in public, to encourage the participation of passers-by.