The p2d sensor prototype [ 11]

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[ 2] Abowd, G. D., C.G. Atkeson, A. Dey, J. Hong, S. Long, R. Kooper, and M. Pinkerton. “Cyberguide: A mobile context-aware tour guide.” ACM Wireless Networks 3 (November 1997): 421-433.

[ 3] Counts, S., M. Smith, and J. Zhao. “Automated Route Annotation in Support of Community.” Proceedings, MSI workshop CHI2007, San Jose, Calif., 2007.

attached services [ 1].

An early application of this type of technological advancement was implemented in Atlanta in the late 1990s; visitors to the Georgia Tech campus were able to experience enhanced “future visions” of spatial awareness [ 2].

Since then the concept of MSI has become increasingly feasible and desired. New technology, including digital cameras, GPS, accelerometers, digital compasses, and RFID chips, is constantly being built into mass-market mobile phones, thus enabling the user to interact with his or her surroundings in new ways. These innovations are inspiring industries to create new contact-less applications, such as in the domains of ticketing and vending. Spatially related research, in the form of Web-based mapping and geo-browsing, is beginning to be transferred to commercial mobile devices. MSI is further boosted by virtual- or

augmented-reality techniques, enabling the continuous interplay between virtual and spatial information.

Research in MSI has traditionally focused on three main categories, which have now reached a level of technical advancement that makes them ideal for technology transfer into commercial devices. The three categories are wayfinding, access and creation of spatial data, and augmented reality.

Orientation and Wayfinding.

A good example of successful MSI is the “flight-mode” visualization in today’s car navigation systems. The bird’s-eye perspective facilitates an efficient match of digital information with the driver’s view, thereby blocking out the task-irrelevant rear view and making closer parts of the road more prominent than farther-away ones. As exemplified with most wayfinding systems, MSI is frequently a secondary task that should not interfere with the

primary activity. This imposes strong constraints on the interaction design.

Outside the car MSI is quickly evolving as a means of supporting mobility in pedestrian navigation, outdoor sports, and traveling. However, more work is required in this area to better support the user undertaking these activities. For example, Scott Counts from Microsoft Research proposed that the “route” should be viewed as a spatio-temporal document type [ 3]. His group is currently investigating how runners can author their own routes, which can be automatically annotated with sensor data for outdoor sports.

Accessing and Creating Spatial Data. A common theme found in MSI research is the ability to access digital information that has been attached to physical places called points of interest (POI). The Geo-Wand is a research concept that enables tourists to point their mobile phone at a