This study investigated characteristics of cafes that encourage or inhibit customers in using mobile phones while in the company of another person in the cafe. The principle results from an observational investigation, and an evaluation experiment is summarized as follows.
From the investigation, it was found that the total usage rate of mobile phones for 30 seconds or more was 30.9%. The usage ratio when meeting people of the same sex was higher than the ratio when meeting people of the opposite sex. Men's usage rate was, in total, a little higher than women's. The usage rate of mobile phones was positively correlated with the horizontal plane illumination of cafes.
From the evaluation experiment, in which images and sounds were presented to subjects, people showed less hesitation to reply to mail with their mobiles when the cafe was bright and crowded. Women meeting persons of the same sex tended to hesitate less when there was up-tempo background music. The reasons related to willingness to reply to mail were inferred as: concern for the companion, concern for surrounding people, concentration on the conversation with the companion, and operability of the mobile phone.
