mCell: Facilitating Mobile Communication of Small Groups

Table 1

User research findings and conducted design drivers and features.

User research finding	Design driver	Feature supporting the driver
Because of IM, communication with social network has become pervasive	Enabling pervasive communication with the group	AllowingmCell to be used through both PC and mobile
Group members use multiple tools to facilitate a single cognitive thread. The more urgent the need for response, the greater the tendency to use real-time communication	Supporting use of multiple communication methods	Including several communication methods within one channel
		Supporting both real-time and non-real-time uses
IM is currently lacking effective session convergence features	Creating hooks to support emergence of real-time interaction	Session convergence features, for example, SMS invitations
Some technologically savvy IRC groups configure bots that record the use of the IRC channel	Sustaining group cohesion	Creating a metalevel where the group can monitor how it is using the channel