Encountering SenseCam: Personal Recording Technologies in Everyday Life 

David H. Nguyen, Gabriela Marcu, Gillian R. Hayes, Khai N. Truong, James 
Scott, Marc Langheinrich, Christof Roduner 

In this paper, we present a study of responses to the idea of being recorded 
by a ubicomp recording technology called SenseCam. This study focused on 
real-life situations in two North American and two European locations. We 
present the findings of this study and their implications, specifically how 
those who might be recorded perceive and react to SenseCam. We describe what 
system parameters, social processes, and policies are required to meet the 
needs of both the primary users and these secondary stakeholders and how being 
situated within a particular locale can influence responses. Our results 
indicate that people would tolerate potential incursions from SenseCam for 
particular purposes. Furthermore, they would typically prefer to be informed 
about and to consent to recording as well as to grant permission before any 
data is shared. These preferences, however, are unlikely to instigate a 
request for deletion or other action on their part. These results inform 
future design of recording technologies like SenseCam and provide a broader 
understanding of how ubicomp technologies might be taken up across different 
cultural and political regions.