Age differences rendezvousing: reminders for side-stepping
This paper reports a diary study of the use of mobile telephones for rendezvousing by young adults (aged 1830) and mature adults (aged 3145) in the UK. A number of age differences were found. Specifically, 3145s more frequently: (1) attributed problems rendezvousing to the overrunning of previous activities, and to the spontaneous performance of additional tasks (side-stepping); (2) reported that problem rendezvous resulted in unnecessary sacrifices; and (3) changed plans for the rendezvous. These differences arose, because additional family commitments encouraged 3145s to pack their daily programme of activities more tightly than 1830s. Mobile phones might better target 3145s, if they, for example, enhanced To Do Lists with context-sensitive reminders, in the first instance, reminders triggered by location (GSM network cellID) and logging off from PCs.
age differences reminders mobile telephone communication personal coordination personal calendars location-based services