Chapter Outline

The research questions outlined in the corresponding chapters and addressed by the above- mentioned research strategies are summarised in Table 1-4. Chapter 1 introduced the topic of the research and motivated the rationale of this research. The problem statement, research questions and objectives and aim of the research were outlined in this chapter. The research methodology to be used for the research was described. Scope and constraints were identified and the envisaged contribution was discussed.

Table 1-4 Summary of Research Questions, Strategies and Chapters

Research Question Research Strategy Chapter

RQ 1. What are the existing problems with current PI organisation methods?

Literature Study Chapter 2

RQ 2. What are the existing problems with current PI visualisation techniques?

Literature Study Chapter 3

RQ 3. What are the requirements for an IV tool to support access to PI across multiple devices?

Survey Chapter 4

RQ 4. How can enhanced IV techniques be designed to support access to PI across multiple devices on a desktop device?

Iterative Design Prototype

Chapter 5

RQ 5. How effective are these IV techniques in supporting access to PI across multiple devices on a desktop device?

Experiment Chapter 6

RQ 6. How can enhanced IV techniques be designed to support access to PI across multiple devices on a mobile device?

Iterative Design Prototype

Chapter 7

RQ 7. How effective are these IV techniques in supporting access to PI across multiple devices in a real environment using a desktop and a mobile device?

Field Study Chapter 8

RQ 8. What are the design recommendations resulting from this research?

The literature study will be discussed in Chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 2 will address the first research question (RQ 1), by introducing PIM and the need for accessing PI across multiple devices. PI organisation will be described in terms of current PI organisation strategies, methods and systems. Shortcomings will be identified for existing PI organisation methods and systems. Requirements will be identified for PI organisation to support accessing PI across multiple devices.

PI visualisation will be discussed in Chapter 3, which will address the second research question (RQ 2). The need for PI visualisation will be identified. The current PI visualisation techniques will then be described. The shortcomings of these PI visualisation techniques will be identified. Existing PI visualisation systems will also be described. The benefits and shortcomings of these systems will then be discussed. Requirements will be identified for PI visualisation to support accessing PI across multiple devices.

Chapter 4 will address the third research question of this work (RQ 3). An interview study will be conducted to determine how users currently manage PI across multiple devices. The interview method and results will be described. Requirements will then be identified for an IV tool to provide access to PI across multiple devices.

Chapter 5 will discuss the design of enhanced IV technique(s) to support accessing PI across multiple devices on a desktop device. This chapter will address the fourth research question (RQ 4). The sample PSI that will be used for PI visualisation will be described as well as the design rationale. The Functionality to be supported by the prototype will be identified in this chapter. Suitable IV techniques will be identified to determine if the IV techniques can be used as they are, or if the techniques need to be enhanced for PIM across multiple devices. Requirements verification to confirm the requirements and the design of the prototype, in terms of a conceptual walkthrough, will then be described. The selection of suitable implementation tools will be discussed. The implementation of the prototype will be described in terms of functionality and interaction. A discussion section will be used to identify any design issues relating to the design and implementation of these enhanced IV technique(s).

Chapter 6 will discuss a preliminary user study to determine the suitability, effectiveness and usefulness of the enhanced PI visualisation technique(s) selected to support PI across multiple devices, which were described in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 will address the fifth research question (RQ 5). The participant sample, evaluation metrics captured and the evaluation procedure will be discussed. The results of the preliminary user study will be discussed in terms of the

effectiveness, user satisfaction and qualitative results. A discussion section will conclude the chapter identifying any issues experienced with the prototype.

Chapter 7 will describe the design of the prototype incorporating the enhanced IV techniques on a mobile device, addressing the sixth research question (RQ 6). The chapter will follow a similar chapter structure to Chapter 5. The updated data design will be discussed to allow a user to upload his/her own PSI to be visualised by the prototype. The design rationale, functionality, IV techniques and prototype design will be discussed. The implementation tools used to map the desktop design of the prototype to a mobile device will be identified and the implementation of the selected storage system and IV techniques will be described. A discussion section concludes this chapter, which will discuss any problems experienced with the implementation of the mobile version of the prototype.

Chapter 8 will describe the method and results of a field study used to evaluate both versions of the prototype. Chapter 8 will address the seventh research question (RQ 7). The evaluation method will be described in terms of the evaluation approach followed, the aims and objectives of the field study and the participant sample. Additionally, the evaluation metrics, tasks and procedure will be discussed. The field study results will be described in terms of effectiveness, user satisfaction and qualitative results. A discussion section will also conclude this chapter, which will discuss the results of the field study and any problems encountered by the participants. Chapter 9 will integrate the results from the previous chapters to outline design recommendations. This chapter will address the eighth and final research question of this work (RQ 8). The design recommendations will be identified to guide the design of future IV tools to support accessing PI across multiple devices. The support provided by the prototype for the requirements identified in Chapters 2 and 3 will be discussed. These requirements will then be mapped to the requirements resulting from the interview study. Design recommendations will then be identified and discussed in terms of the results of the field study.

Chapter 10 will conclude the thesis. The achievements of the research will be described to determine to what extent the research questions were addressed. The theoretical and practical contributions of the research will be discussed. Limitations and problems encountered with the research will be identified and the chapter will conclude by discussing ideas for future research to be completed. The chapter will show to what extent the enhanced IV technique(s) effectively support accessing PI across multiple devices. A summary of the chapter outline is shown in Figure 1-5.