People use mobile devices to search, locate and discover local information around them. Mobile local search is frequently a social activity. This paper presents the results of a survey and an exploratory user study of collaborative mobile local search. The survey results show that people frequently search with others and that these searches often involve the use of more than one mobile device. We prototyped a collaborative mobile search app, which we used as a tool to investigate users’ collaborative mobile search behavior. Our study results provide insights into how users collaborate while performing search. We also provide design considerations to inform future mobile local search technologies.

1. Investigating Collaborative Mobile
Search Behaviors
Shahriyar Amini, Vidya Setlur, Ina Xi, Eiji Hayashi, Jason Hong
Carnegie Mellon University, Nokia Research Center
August 29, 2013

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3. Conducted a survey on users’ most
recent collaborative mobile search.
• 63 Participants
– (35 Male, 26 Female, 2 Skipped)
• 68.2% between 18-35 years old
• Participants used mobile search frequently
– 19% searched daily
– 52% weekly
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4. Collaborators often search with
more than one device.
• 57.1% searches with one other person
• 77.8% collaborations are co-located
• More than 50% used more than one device
• 87.3% share results through talking
• Less familiar with the area of search than if
searching alone.
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6. Conducted a study with search app.
• 42 Participants (28 male, 14 female)
• 73.8% between 18-25, others: 26-35
• 23 students, others: writers, attorneys, etc.
• Studied stand-alone app vs. collaborative
version of the app
• Searched and agreed on a restaurant where
they would both like to eat lunch
• 2 tasks with each version including one practice
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7. Users can view and share results.
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8. Collaborative features promoted
exploration.
• Collaborative searches took longer:
– 5.81 vs 7.42 mins (p< 0.01)
• Collaborative searches involved more
detailed view pages:
– 11.90 vs 18.33 detail page views (p< 0.01)
• Non-collaborative searches resulted in
replication of the search process and
comparison of the returned results.
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9. Collaborators usually exercised two
approaches.
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Exploratory
Targeted

10. Participants took into account the
opinion of those not present.
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11. Design Implications and Conclusion
Facilitate communication:
Provide an opportunity to explain actions.
Offer collaborative filters/omission lists:
Enable users to express dislikes.
Optimize for friends and family:
Offer pre-sets and expose preferences.
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13. Users can view and share results.
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14. Users can re-use previous queries.
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15. Collaborators used the Picks list
most often.
• Median 3 picks added
• Median 0 picks removed
• Participants were very
aware of the notifications
• Notifications were used 15
times total by 9 users
• Query cloud used 19 times
by 10 participants
• More effective with
session histories and
popular searches 15