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CMU-HCII-14-107
Human-Computer Interaction Institute
School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
CMU-HCII-14-107
Reflecting the Current Practices of Technology Use
in Volunteer Data COllection Activities on the
Opportunities of Mobile Technology
Sunyoung Kim, Jennifer Mankoff, Eric Paulos*
August 2014
CMU-HCII-14-107.pdf
Keywords:
Public Participation, Volunteer, Environmental campaign, Data collection,
Mobile Technology, Technology Adoption
Mobile technology is advancing our ability to connect and share information in
ways that were impossible before. It offers great potential for people to
participate in volunteer activities for data collection at reduced cost and
time. Despite its potentials, the organizations that coordinate volunteer
activities often do not fully benefit from the capabilities of advanced mobile
technologies. In order to understand how mobile technology might support
volunteer data collection activities, this study investigated the current use
of technology for volunteer activities, reflecting on the opportunities and
challenges it brings. We categorized the organizations that coordinate
volunteer activities according to goal, and identified perceived challenges
that prevent them from leveraging mobile technology: the credibility of public
participation, and interference with the field experience. While not an
exhaustive list, we believe that these challenges are critical starting points
when strategizing the adoption of mobile technologies in volunteer data
collection activities. We conclude by discussing the potential for mobile
technology use to promote public participation in data collection activities
and to foster public engagement in volunteer activities.
35 pages
*University of California, Berkeley
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