Awareness Systems

Awareness systems can be broadly defined as those systems that help people construct and maintain awareness of each others’ activities, context or status, even if the participants are not co-located. Originally intended for supporting people involved in the same activities at different locations, such systems are now used to support social interactions between any connected individuals and to support social relationships over sustained periods of time.

Providing an overview of the current state-of-the-art this book provides a theoretical foundation for the design and development of Awareness Systems. It offers a reflection on the field, tracking research progress from past visions to current trends and future challenges, while presenting a representative collection of design concepts in the area and helping to systematize evaluation practices. It will be welcomed by all those working in the area of Awareness Systems.