Digital Simplicity: Usable Personal Ubicomp

There are many indicators to suggest that Americans feel technology is complicating their lives. These range from the growing strength of the voluntary simplicity movement [Elgin 1998] and the slew of popular books on “unplugging” [Brende 2004] to research showing that many consumers are overwhelmed by the increasing complexity of daily living [Breen-Pierce & Robin 2000]. In response, many individuals chose to selectively reject certain computing and communications technologies. For example, some people choose to not receive their work email at home, while others deliberately turn off their cell phones outside of work hours. Many have bought PDAs and simply don’t use them anymore. A clear value proposition, the support of an important cultural or social experience, and a straight forward user interface are all important components of successful technologies.