I just completed my PhD annual report. It basically compile what I did in the last 2 years and what's next.

Probable title of the thesis: Analyzing and Modeling the Use of Location Awareness in Mobile Collaboration

Thesis Director: Prof. Pierre Dillenbourg

Keywords: human-computer interaction (HCI), computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), pervasive computing, location awareness, location-based sevices, collaboration, coordination, awareness.

Abstract: This project addresses the use of a new class of applications in pervasive computing called location-based services; systems that take advantage of people’s physical location to provide users with various services such as location awareness of others during mobile collaboration. We focus on understanding how this feature modifies collaboration processes. For that matter, we designed a collaborative mobile environment in which we are testing how a location awareness tool impacts the group performance and interactions. Series of experiments are currently run on this platform. The expected outcome of this project is to have both concrete design guidelines and a formal model of how location awareness impacts mobile collaboration.