Mobile HCI, 247-250
VIII. Appendix: Personas and subject profiles
Table A-1: Taiwanese students studying abroad in the U.S.
Persona case: Ga-Lin
Ga-Lin is the second year graduate students, female and major in Education. Most of her incomes come from the work savings, family support and scholarship.
The life of the graduate student is itinerated among dormitory, classroom, laboratory and library, and therefore she brings the notebook with her all the time.
Except for the homework, the notebook also allows her to watch Taiwan streaming video, make a video skype phone and listen to the MP3.
Because the tuition fee in the U.S. is almost 10 times higher than in Taiwan, she will not spend money on the unnecessary stuff. So even though her mobile phone can access to the Internet, she will use school WiFi to access the email.
Since she had already paid $50 for the monthly fee, she seldom would buy online digital content from her mobile phone to control her available budget.
She never buys newspaper in the U.S. but she will read the school paper during lunch time.
She lives in the dormitory and the cable TV fee is included in the rent, so she sometime will turn on TV for the background sound to be familiar with English language.
The major function of mobile phone is to make a phone call, to text with friends or check Facebook of friends activities in Taiwan.
Code Gender Age Stay in US
Smart phone
$/m paid
Major mobile functions
TA-1 F 28 3Y Y $50 Phone, email, Mp3, facebook, map
TA-2 M 26 1M N $10 Phone
TA-3 F 29 2Y Y $50 Phone, email, Mp3 TA-4 F 23 5Y N $20 Phone, text
TA-5 F 31 7Y N $40 Phone
TA-6 F 27 1M Y $50 Phone, email, Mp3, video Source of picture: http://myfatpocket.com/blog/elaineyuki/2008/11/
Table A-2: Taiwanese students studying in Taiwan.
Persona case: Ko-Hua
Ko-Hua is the first year graduate student, male and major in Radio and Television. Most of his incomes come from family support and part-time job.
He usually rides the motorcycle to school and sometimes he might take the MRT and buses to commute between home and school taking near one hour. So he uses the mobile phone to check the schedule and sometimes play games.
He likes to play mobile game but most of them are downloaded with free. Because he lives with his parents and they pay for the mobile phone bill, he has the budget limit in every month.
In addition, he did not have the credit card or bank account to buy digital contents from APP store or iTune.
Almost all of the students would attend PTT for several hours in each day, the biggest BBS in Taiwan, which provides all kind of information and chat rooms in any topics. The other popular website is PPStream, which provide all kinds of P2P video stream in China. Students can watch any kind of dramas and movies from all over the world.
Currently it is more convenient to access PTT and PPS through notebook or computer than mobile that enhances the notebooks as the life centers for most Taiwanese students.
The mobile monthly fee in Taiwan is cheaper than the U.S. However, since the bills are usually paid by their parents, most families have not considered the data plans are the necessary telecom services for students.
Code Gender Age Hometown outside
Table A-3: American students studying abroad in Taiwan.
Persona case: Julia
JuIia is the student studying Chinese language in Taipei and this is her second years. Most of her incomes come from her part-time job in Taiwan. That salary is ok but the living expenditure in Taipei is not low, especially for the rent.
She did not need a car to live in Taipei since the MRT and buses are very convenient in the city of Taipei. She will usually spend half hour to commute from her home to school.
Except for checking email and schedule, she also likes to use google map to find the restaurant or location where she meets with friends.
Even though she uses the mobile phone quick often, she did not buy many digital contents through her mobile phone. She may occasionally buy some MP3 but no more for others. She did not think that is worth.
There are very limited English newspapers or radio stations in Taiwan and she did not like to watch the Taiwanese television shows either. Therefore, she still reads American online newspaper or listens to her hometown radio through the Internet.
Just like the college student in the U.S., she like to text friends when they have plan to get together. Even thought the text fee is more expensive in Taiwan, she got used to text most of her friends, including those in the U.S.
Code Gender Age Stay in Taiwan
Smart phone
$/m paid
Major mobile functions
AT-1 M 26 3Y Y $45 Phone, email, schedule, book, game, google map,
AT-2 M 25 1M N $15 Phone, text AT-3 M 24 2Y Y $45 Phone, email, MP3 AT-4 F 23 1M N $10 Phone, text
AT-5 M 21 2M Y $30 Phone, email, schedule, AT-6 F 27 2Y N $15 Phone, text
Source of picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkitan/3480899006/
Table A-4: American students studying in the U.S.
Persona case: Joshua
Joshua is the second year Ph.D. student, male and major in psychology. Most of his incomes come from the $ 1200 teaching or research assistantship but he still needs part of loan.
The graduate student life is itinerated among dormitory, classroom, laboratory and library. He brings his notebook with him all the time whether he needs to read articles, analyze data, write paper, search for information and send email.
He sent and received near 100 texts every day to communicate with his friends and family.
Especially on Sunday, they sent over 100 texts to discuss about the process of the football games. His hometown is in the state of Pennsyival, so he will talk to his old buddy and family through email, text or Facebook.
Although he has the iPhone 3GS and subscribes to the unlimited data plan, he sets up WiFi to access the Internet for the faster speed.
He still buys some MP3 music once a while and downloads to his mobile phone, maybe sometimes game. But other than that, he seldom to buy videos and books for his phone.
Although the price is low, the utility is even low and he can have other free contents as the option.
He never buys newspaper but read school printed paper. He also reads free online New York Times and CNN from his iPhone 3GS every day in the break.
Although he did not buy much mobile content, now he used access Amazon or eBay to buy or bet from mobile phone that made him be able to monitor the market all the time.
Code Gender Age Hometown
Order 1
Viewing Device Format ContentType File Name 1
PC Video
Drama Funny Ross Moment
Questionnaire in notebook
2 Sport 2010 NBA Finals Game 7 Lakers vs Celtics
Questionnaire in notebook
3 Science Time Warp – Discovery Channel Soap Bubbles Science
Questionnaire in notebook
4 Business Is gold a safe investment?
Questionnaire in notebook
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 5
PC Text
Drama A Do-Gooder Vision Clouded by Blind Spots
Questionnaire in notebook
6 Sport U.S. isn’t the Only Country with March Madness
Questionnaire in notebook
7 Science F.D.A. Panel to Consider Warnings for Artificial Food Colorings
Questionnaire in notebook
8 Business As Regulators Weigh AT&T Bid, a look at Wireless Marks Abroad
Questionnaire in notebook
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 9
Mobile Video
Business Inside Facebook
Questionnaire in notebook
10 Science Discovery – First Time machine
Questionnaire in notebook
11 Sport 2011 SUPER BOWL XLV: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packer
Questionnaire in notebook
12 Drama ER – Rachel Greene first day & last scene
Questionnaire in notebook
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 13
Mobile Text
Business Job Growth Suggests Resilience of U.S. Recovery
Questionnaire in notebook
14 Science Cleanup Questions as Radiation Spreads
Questionnaire in notebook
15 Sport First Win in hand. German pro Tries to pick Up Something Bigger
Questionnaire in notebook
16 Drama Don’t Know who You Are, but Don’t Know Who I am
Questionnaire in notebook
Order 2
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 1
Mobile Text
Drama A Do-Gooder Vision Clouded by Blind Spots
Questionnaire in notebook
2 Sport U.S. isn’t the Only Country with March Madness
Questionnaire in notebook
3 Science F.D.A. Panel to Consider Warnings for Artificial Food Colorings
Questionnaire in notebook
4 Business As Regulators Weigh AT&T Bid, a look at Wireless Marks Abroad
Questionnaire in notebook
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 5
Mobile Video
Drama Funny Ross Moment
Questionnaire in notebook
6 Sport 2010 NBA Finals Game 7 Lakers vs Celtics
Questionnaire in notebook
7 Science Time Warp – Discovery Channel Soap Bubbles Science
Questionnaire in notebook
8 Business Is gold a safe investment?
Questionnaire in notebook
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 9
PC Text
Business Job Growth Suggests Resilience of U.S. Recovery
Questionnaire in notebook
10 Science Cleanup Questions as Radiation Spreads
Questionnaire in notebook
11 Sport First Win in hand. German pro Tries to pick Up Something Bigger
Questionnaire in notebook
12 Drama Don’t Know who You Are, but Don’t Know Who I am
Questionnaire in notebook
Viewing Device Format Content Type File Name 13
PC Video
Business Inside Facebook
Questionnaire in notebook
14 Science Discovery – First Time machine
Questionnaire in notebook
15 Sport 2011 SUPER BOWL XLV: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packer
Questionnaire in notebook
16 Drama ER – Rachel Greene first day & last scene
Questionnaire in notebook