NotifEye: using interactive glasses to deal with notifications while walking in public

In this paper we explore the use of interactive eyewear in public. We introduce NotifEye, an application that allows a person to receive social network notifications on interactive glasses while walking on a busy street. The prototype uses a minimalistic user interface (UI) for interactive glasses to help people focus their attention on their surroundings and supports discreet interaction by using a finger rub pad to take action on incoming notifications. We studied pragmatic and hedonic aspects of the prototype during a pedestrian navigation task in a city center. We found that, despite the potential risk of overwhelming people with information, participants were able to keep track of their surroundings as they dealt with incoming notifications. Participants also positively valued the use of a discreet device to provide input for interactive glasses. Finally, participants reflected on their (evolving) perception of interactive glasses, indicating that glasses should become smaller, more comfortable to wear, and somewhat of a fashion accessory.

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