Metadata meets “Context”
Putting it all together:
When you pick up your mobile phone on your way to
the airport for your trip to Dublin to attend a
conference on metadata, you see that your flight
has been cancelled and are easily able to rebook
on an alternate flight.
When you arrive in Dublin, you again glance at your
phone and see that there’s a surprise Madonna
concert happening the day after your conference.
You’re prompted for whether you want to buy
tickets now and extend your stay an extra day.
While at the conference, you receive only high priority
messages.
At dinner, your phone tells you that there are others
attending the same conference who will also be
going to the concert – you can choose whether or
not to advertise this fact yourself to your
colleagues. You bond with your fellow Madonna
fans.
The next day, at the concert, you create mobile blog
entries using your camera phone. News wires pick
up your pictures and you get some nice royalties.
…or other, more innovative, ideas…
User context (née “Preferences”)
Location
At work / at home / on holiday
Age
Topics of interest (“likes Madonna”)
Connections to others
Schedule
Situational Context
In a meeting
At a conference
Travelling to Dublin
At a concert
Event-based context
Time of day
Current events (the Olympics)
News/Information
Messages
Application-specific information (e.g.
flight timetables)