Handheld fast-track feedback instant messaging

Abstract

As mobile devices and networks become more data-centric, text messaging requires an extension of co-presence capabilities for better interactive discussion between input/output handicapped handheld users and their free form desktop counterparts. Given some degree of co-presence (online presence and awareness) in text-based Instant Messaging, we hope to increase this co-presence on a handheld with fast-track feedback (FF) mechanisms. These are user-defined gestures, such as emoticons, and prioritised messages. We are building a system that facilitates gesture input within an interactive text-based chat over a wireless network running Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The chat bridges a robust desktop environment and a small number of handhelds. This work in progress looks into the SIP Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions as a platform to provide fast-track interactive and co-presence feedback. The aim is to rubberise a hitherto plastic and limited instant messaging conversation. We shall measure co-presence levels between FF and standard IM environments in and without desktop and handhelds by engaging two groups of users in chats session. We expect to demonstrate that there exists high co-presence notion in open (work by Sun Research Awarenex Group and AT&T Hubbubme in similar domain were in closed systems) FF text messaging open environment as we would like to show that this higher presence brings a much more enhanced interactive discourse. The envisaged results are intended to extrapolate to online aware co-presence in the up and coming smart phones on 3G packet networks.