Designing Ambient Multisensory Notification Devices: Managing Disruptions in the Home

An increasing number of technologies are battling for our attention constantly throughout the day. The majority of distractions come in the form of notifications from mobile instant messaging services, which under certain circumstances can make us feel overwhelmed and stressed. The goal of this paper is to add to the growing body of research that aims to find solutions and coping mechanisms for the problems associated with excessive notifications. Instead of focusing on software solutions on the mobile device itself, we explore the use of multisensory ambient information displays as notification delivery systems in the home context. Our goal was to use the attention periphery to create sufficient awareness of incoming messages without overwhelming the user. We conducted a three-part investigation that began with a laboratory study with 23 participants exploring initial impressions with notifications across a variety of sensory channels and modalities. Insights from this study were then used in a design workshop that helped us develop four different ambient notification prototypes. We present qualitative findings from a subsequent study in which seven participants used those devices for a period of four days in their homes. Finally, we compare the results of different notification modalities and provide implications for the design of ambient multisensory notifications in the home context.