Co-riding with my eBike to get green lights

Abstract

Researchers are increasingly exploring interactive technology supporting human-system partnership in an exertion context, such as cycling. So far, most investigations have supported the rider cognitively, by the system "sensing and presenting" information to assist the rider to make informed decisions. In contrast, we propose systems that promote user-system co-operation, by "sensing and acting" on information to assist the rider, not only "cognitively" but also "physically", with the aim of facilitating user-system cooperation in an exertion context. Our prototype, "Ari", is a novel augmented eBike designed to facilitate user-system co-operation, where the information that each party can sense is used in regulating the speed to cross all traffic lights on green. A study with 20 bike riders resulted in five themes and six design tactics to further the design of interactive systems at the intersection of human-computer integration in an exertion context, thereby facilitating user-system cooperation to augment the exertion experience.