Domestic Situated SMS Messaging with Digital Photo Frames

SMS messaging technology allows for short messages to be exchanged between individuals at a relatively low cost. Current SMS messaging technology is limited to person-to-person messaging; many other forms of social communication also allow for person-to-location messaging. This is particularly important for domestic messaging since messages may need to be broadcast to an entire family or household. Some previous work has discussed the creation of display technology to receive SMS messages, but these projects all required custom hardware development in addition to the software components that received and displayed the messages. In this project, I created a comprehensive person-to-location SMS messaging system built on digital photo frames. These photo frames are relatively inexpensive and are readily available. I designed and implemented a software platform and hardware infrastructure to receive, deliver, and render messages to digital photo frames that are located in the home. By rendering messages as images in JPEG format and delivering these images across a local wireless network the photo frames can display SMS messages overlaid on digital photos. I conducted an evaluation study with two families and two flats. Each household was provided with a photo frame and accompanying infrastructure for approximately one month. Households used the photo frame messaging technology regularly, sending 100 messages over the period of the study. Usage patterns varied by household, but overall I found that family members mostly used the system to send informational messages about their location and status, while flats used the system primarily for social communication and for facilitating social interactions. The evaluation study also assessed the use of photo frame technology for this type of situated display application. The limitations of digital photo frames became apparent over the course of the evaluation. Household members found that the inability to scroll through previously received messages, as well as the lack of audible notifications when new messages arrived, precluded their use of the system for urgent messages or for requests that required action. Nevertheless, the households adapted to the characteristics of the technology over the period of the study and found it useful for broadcasting particular types of social and informational messages to the entire flat or family.