Adding Value to Traffic Encounters: a Design Rationale for Mobile Ad Hoc Computing Services

The roads are places where an extensive amount of everyday meetings among people occur. Two issues make the social interaction meagre. First, when driving, high speed makes these encounters brief. Second, driving often involves being enclosed by a hull of a vehicle. Consequently, this interaction and, in the end, also driving, occasionally becomes tedious. We suggest a design rationale for mobile ad hoc computing services that add value to traffic encounters, yet taking into account safety issues. We argue such services would considerably augment and enrich the highway experience. This rationale, which honours the main features of the prevalent social interaction, is motivated by two prototype services: Hocman and Sound Pryer. The first adds value to biking activities. The latter provides shared music listening experiences during traffic encounters.