Enhancing social experiences with shared drones

Over the last 10 years, drones have become smaller, more durable, affordable, and easier to fly. Their photo and videotaking capabilities have significantly improved. In fact, the proliferation of drones is already happening, with new no-fly zones being developed in more territories. Given current developments, we envision that everyone will be able to carry a pocket drone with them at all times, just like we do with smartphones today. Drones appeal to users as they offer, among other things, a unique view of landscapes, wildlife, the user, and other people. We conducted a survey in which we asked participants about their video and phototaking habits and how they could envision using a drone for these purposes. Based on our findings, we envision systems in which nearby drones are available for personal and shared usage. This allows having all the advantages of drones but leaves control over the airspace to regulators, thus enabling safely and respectfully flying over areas such as national parks or zoos. Moreover, we envision shared drones as a means of sparking new social interactions.