Mobile/Research/Qualitative Studies/India/Notes/Rahul

Rahul

26, freelance software dev, erp tools (think mint.com)
has android, samsung galaxy SL
tata docomo prepaid. 1500 min, 200 MB, recharges from the internet (not from store) if needed
nuclear family of four, lives with parents and younger brother, studying architecture has laptop of his own.
desktop at home, laptop for work/on the go, desktop at work (but uses laptop)
next purchase: kindle dx. no browser, optimized for reading.
metal fan - iron maiden/purple haze
worked at ibm before "passing out" but doesn't want to sit in an office at a 9-5 job where you do what is told of you
goals: have a company by the time i'm 30, own my own skills. open a bookstore, use technology (microsoft touch tables, members get a smart card, associated with your phone, get personalized service).
used to use timetables, paper before internet and mobile
uses a suite of PM and productivity apps, all synched with his android (evernote, google docs, fundlist?, intuit money manager (pays 1R per day)).
manual, quicker tastsk done on the go
"I have my information everywhere. I have to trust the data service that I use to keep it there. It should be present under any circumstances"
GPRS, caching, hot swappable memory card? i would like my phone to allow me to be truly on the go. my phone has caching
past tech life: used brittanica and merriman webster; wap sites were nascent, not that useful; had email (hotmaiil, yahoo) mostly for "show off" purposes, went to rediff, now gmail - better because it synchs with calendars etc
learns about and filters new technologies from addictivetips.com
"we asians don't like to pay for tools. everyone knows that"
GPRS: gave us faster download times, but now beyond ringtones and wallpapers. resizing websites, easier to view, gmail.
I do thorough research. I look at things others overlook. I read the fine print. I check it out. And if it's bad, I remove it.
Facebook, online poker - waste of time. Silly, really. I'd rather spend my free time outdoors (riding a bike)
Free time on computer, I read blogs, oatmeal comic strips (?), Youtube, miniclips (online flash games), BUT mainly I like to be in learning mode (talks at length about productivity reading and tools).
I've upgraded my desktop hardware myself about 6 times since I've bought it. Even replaced my CPU. Set up DNA tv (with custom 10M HDMI cable) and showed his parents photos on his comoputer in HD.

Mobile

If there's not a native android app, I use my mobile browser
Android, has free apps, also needed for work as they are making a mobile app eventually
Lookout for best rated app in the android store. (ever contribute ratings?)
NG PAY, Evernote, and other apps synched with online apps. "All the stuff I do on my desktop, I'd like to do on my mobile"
Docomo activated their 3G, still slow
Have not enabled location based service - not many use cases.
Quick, small notes, small mails, small checks - On the go. When I'm at home, I don't see the reason to use it.
Data card - tata. GPRS not great, 3G not great.
On my PC I can take care of heavy data.
Might be lazy in the morning and use mobile, while eating breakfast.
Ebooks, reading - double tap on large page. Websites/Feeds - engadget, techcrunch
I'm not desparate to connect to a free wifi hotspot
Gamer role playing games, movie reviews, might lead to strained eyes. More difficult content.
Before Samsung, had Nokia N95 and iPod Touch. Took both around.
N95: gmail, ng pay. iPod Touch: used on wifi only
Contribute? only on serious sites. not on silly sites.

Wikipedia

"I don't ahve anything else for serious information"
I go there to look for things I know I want. Not randomly.
Solid concrete information - I don't have to go anywhere else, it's all in one place.
Used to take me 1/2 hour to gather information (would copy from websites and put it into word)
"People should know Wikipedia is good. Google gets the credit "Google it," but Google just gives you and advanced search - it's Wikipedia that gives you the answer."
So used to static info. Always there.
Authenticity - couldn't rely on it at first. That transition took time. Would use google to verify, now most of the things i read are true.
I know maybe 20 - 30% of what's there. (uses that to gauge)
Never edited - no time. Sorry.
visits almost everyday
I've never registered. Never come across a need to get features. If you have an account......how would I know that? What features does it offer me?
Likes thumbnails ("doesn't hog bandwidth")
Wants native Android app - it makes a difference to me I would rather use an official app. can trust. will accurately reflect the website.
POTENTIAL TO DEMO FEATURES THROUGH OFFICIAL MOBILE APP
would think search bar would be bigger.
my friends owuld say it's an elite club. it's actually normal people. have not met one of them. a lot of links intimidating.
tie up with institutions - education, knowledge driven community, 11th standard time
FEATURES: post an article or comment, setting options (font, colors), manual settings to control content, black or white background
2011 reader, not the 1900s they ahve to keep up with kindle, google reader, learn from them. on kindle, you can click the word and see the definition.
LIKE WIKIPANION - INTEGRATION WITH WIKTIONARY
had another android app (get name from aparna's photo)
lots of links and photos - drag and pinch. smaller tasks.
multimedia - time consuming, multiple tabs quite time consuming to use more clicks.
SHOW/HIDE - good, less bandwidth

when my pages get slow, i know i've gone too far (used to much, need to "top off")
Alerts you when you're out.
doesn't comment on blogs
annoying to use facebook ID. can't they use open source, something less obtrusive?
Wikipedia is not an interactive website. Could be more dynamic - last edited, some box, gives contributors a grade (i know this guys stuff, he actually takes a lot of time to do that. he's a pro user), notes of stuff that's not there, needed.