Here and Now : A User-Adaptive and Location-Aware Task Planner

In this paper, we present a ubiquitous location-based task planner that integrates a to-do list and a schedule/calendar with route knowledge and adapts both its view and alarms to the user’s current situation. The task planner is hosted on a web server and can be accessed from everywhere via a mobile Web terminal, such as a mobile phone or notebook, or a public display infrastructure which recognizes the user by their Bluetooth-device. Tasks can be localized by specifying a certain location where the task can be accomplished, such as an office or a store. Alternatively, a category can be chosen from an ontology that includes activities like shopping, sports or traveling by airplane. Since the task planner is likely to include dozens of tasks for the near future, it is too large to be browsed on the go. Therefore the planner implements a ‘here-and-now’ view, which adapts to the current time/date and location of the user. Based on knowledge about the purpose, address and opening hours of locations and routes, the task planner is able to filter for tasks that can be accomplished nearby, considering the time to reach the location and other deadlines. A second feature is an adaptive reminder, which considers the time that is needed to travel to the specified location of a task.