Neighbourhoods and the social communities surrounding these spaces have previously provided vital networks for support (Riger and Lavrakas 1981). They have forged strong ties, fostering a sense of belonging and a feeling of security for those that exist within them (Kavanaugh and Patterson 2001). The transient and disparate nature of many current societies, means that few of these communities still exist, and few of these connections have been continued (Putnam 2001). Despite this tethering of social ties, the need for a collective communal identity remains, and the desire to belong is constant (Baumeister and Leary 1995). What is now absent in many modern societies is a means to best facilitate these human requirements and social needs. The SoundBITE application is proposed as a potential design solution that aims to encourage a more engaging social environment through interactive and mobile networking technologies. It provides a means to facilitate improved social networks within public settings, and assist in developing strong ties that might look towards recreating the now lacking community and neighbourhood interactions.

1. SoundBiTe
A Social Mobile Music Application

2. Problem Space

3. Music Matters

4. Related Work
• Undersound: A music sharing application for users
of the London Underground.
• TunA: A location based social music notification
system.
• MeetMySong: An iPhone application that creates a
personality based on music preferences, and then aims
to match users based on these.

5. Design Requirements
• Portable: Any application developed within the social mobile context
should be highly portable and available anywhere.
• Secure: Given the personal nature of a social mobile tool, privacy is key.
Users must be able to protect certain information.
• Unobtrusive: Users should be able to perform other tasks even when
the application is in use.
• Intuitive: The application should be easy to use and require no detailed
prior knowledge to operate.
• Individual: Users must be able to modify and tailor the application to suit
their own needs.

6. SoundBiTe
A Social Mobile Music Application

7. Use Scenario

8. Use Scenario

9. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

10. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

11. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

12. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

13. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

14. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

15. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

16. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

17. new user
1. Register
2. Complete Profile
3. Play Music

18. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

19. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

20. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

21. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

22. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

23. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

24. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

25. new user
1. Connect
2. Play Music

26. current user
1. Bite
2. View Profile

27. current user
1. Bite
2. View Profile

28. current user
1. Bite
2. View Profile

29. current user
1. Bestie Alert
2. View Profile

30. current user
1. Bestie Alert
2. View Profile

31. current user
1. Bestie Alert
2. View Profile

32. current user
1. Bestie Alert
2. View Profile

33. current user
1. Bestie Alert
2. View Profile

34. Design Decisions
• Registration: The current prototype connects users
with existing profiles on Last.FM, iLike and Pandora.
• Messaging: The current prototype does not facilitate
messaging options between users.
• Distance: The current prototype has a defined range
and only displays the distance of “Besties” when online.

35. SUCCESS INDICATORS
• Portable: Because of the platform that this application has been designed
for, SoundBITE is entirely portable.
• Secure: SoundBITE users can modify and remove personal information at
any time through the profile page.
• Unobtrusive: If run on the new iPhone operating system, the SoundBITE
application can work in the background, and users can perform any number
of other tasks at the same time.
• Intuitive: The SoundBITE application has been designed with the aim of
being intuitive and easy to use.
• Individual: SoundBITE users can modify all of their personal information
and profile image, making the system entirely individual.

36. Potential Limitations

37. Future Directions

38. SoundBiTe
A Social Mobile Music Application