Help radar: ubiquitous assistance for newly arrived immigrants

Help Radar consists of a ubiquitous assistance service which enables immigrants to connect with volunteers, who in turn provide information on a variety of topics, guidance and practical assistance. The system was developed to foster the early integration of immigrants in the host country. In this paper, we present the methodological approach and results obtained from the field evaluation of Help Radar which involved Turkish immigrants in Graz, Austria, as well as immigrants from Latin-American and Arabic speaking countries in London, United Kingdom. During and after the field phase, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered to determine the usage activity, satisfaction, privacy concerns and trust towards the system. Based on results differences in usage among the involved user groups, types of assistance received and potentials of Help Radar toward immigrants' integration are discussed.