A framework for mobile services supporting mobile non-office workers

Abstract

Mobile services supporting mobile work among non-office workers have received limited attention. To support designers to map out possible mobile services supporting work among such workers, we have developed a framework that groups work into primary and secondary activities. A primary activity is directly associated with the primary, or main, objective of the work. A secondary activity has a more supportive or indirect association with the primary activity. We have used the framework in three different settings: -nursing in hospitals, home health-care, and construction. Our research shows that even if primary activities differ considerably, we identified a set of generic, secondary activities relevant to personnel working in all three areas. Examples are communication, collaboration, coordination, reporting, handling papers, or handling logistics. Such activities are supportable by mobile services. We have found that the framework is an appropriate analysis tool for investigating the possible use of mobile services supporting non-office workers. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.