We present Silicone iLluminated Active Peripherals (SLAP), a system of tangible, translucent widgets for use on multitouch tabletops. SLAP Widgets are cast from silicone or made of acrylic, and include sliders, knobs, keyboards, and buttons. They add tactile feedback to multi-touch tables, improving input accuracy. Using rear projection, SLAP Widgets can be relabeled dynamically, providing inexpensive, battery-free, and untethered augmentations. Furthermore, SLAP combines the flexibility of virtual objects with physical affordances. We evaluate how SLAP Widgets influence the user experience on tabletops compared to virtual controls. Empirical studies show that SLAP Widgets are easy to use and outperform virtual controls significantly in terms of accuracy and overall interaction time. Author Keywords Tangible user interfaces, transparent widgets, augmented virtuality, dynamic relabeling, tabletop interaction, multi-touch, toolkit ACM Classification Keywords

Tabletop computers based on diffuse illumination can track fiducial markers placed on the table’s surface. In this paper, we demonstrate how to do the same with objects arranged in a three-dimensional structure without modifying the table. We present lumino, a system of building blocks. In addition to a marker, each block contains a glass fiber bundle. The bundle optically guides the light reflected off markers in the higher levels down to the table surface, where the table’s built-in camera reads it. While guiding marker images down, the bundle optically scales and rearranges them. It thereby fits the images of an entire vertical arrangement of markers into the horizontal space usually occupied by a single 2D marker. We present six classes of blocks and matching marker designs, each of which is optimized for different requirements. We show three demo applications. One of them is a construction kit that logs and critiques constructions. The presented blocks are unpowered and maintenance-free, keeping larger numbers of blocks manageable. ACM Classification: H5.2 [Information interfaces and

We introduce “Facet-Streams”, a hybrid interactive surface for co-located collaborative product search on a tabletop. Facet-Streams combines techniques of information visualization with tangible and multi-touch interaction to materialize collaborative search on a tabletop. It harnesses the expressive power of facets and Boolean logic without exposing users to complex formal notations. Two user studies reveal how Facet-Streams unifies visual and tangible expressivity with simplicity in interaction, supports different strategies and collaboration styles, and turns product search into a fun and social experience.

We present a new approach for rapidly prototyping multi-touch and object sensing surfaces. It works by liquid displacement inside a malleable projection surface. The system provides both touch and pressure information and a distinct organic quality when touched. The system is easy to build and produces a clean signal revealing multiple fingers, whole hands and other object outlines that can be processed using computer vision techniques. This approach provides an easy mechanism to build interactive surfaces, requiring no infrared edge lighting or soldering. In this paper we provide an overview of the approach, some of its unique capabilities, and uncover some of the tradeoffs between viscosity of liquid, air pressure, surface malleability and the volume of liquid used. Our aim is to allow practitioners – from DIY enthusiasts to researchers – to build and experiment with such systems more readily. 1.

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Tabletop systems have become quite popular in recent years, during which there was considerable enthusiasm for the development of new interfaces. In this paper, we establish a comparison between touch and tangible interfaces. We set up an experiment involving several actions like translation and rotation. We recruited 40 participants to take part in a user study and we present our results with a discussion on the design of touch and tangible interfaces. Our contribution is an empirical study showing that overall, the tangible interface is much faster but under certain conditions, the touch interface could gain the upper hand. function of the distance traveled (between the starting position and final target position) divided by the target size. We believe that tangible interactions are too complex to be measured by Fitt’s law. Therefore, we replaced the measurement of distance by measurements of a certain number of predefined actions such as translation and rotation. We start by reviewing the existing work related to the comparison of different input interfaces, followed by a description of our system, the study and the results. Finally, we will discuss the implications of our work and propose some guidelines for the design of tangible interfaces. Author Keywords HCI, touch, tangible, interface

We present an experimental comparison of multi-touch and tangible user interfaces for basic interface actions. Twelve participants completed manipulation and acquisition tasks on an interactive surface in each of three conditions: tangible user interface; multi-touch; and mouse and puck. We found that interface control objects in the tangible condition were easiest to acquire and, once acquired, were easier/more accurate to manipulate. Further qualitative analysis suggested that in the evaluated tasks tangibles offer greater adaptability of control and specifically highlighted a problem of exit error that can undermine fine-grained control in multi-touch interactions. We discuss the implications of these findings for interface design.

Abstract. The Organ and Augmented Reality (ORA) project has been presented to public audiences at two immersive concerts, with both visual and audio augmentations of an historic church organ. On the visual side, the organ pipes displayed a spectral analysis of the music using visuals inspired by LED-bar VU-meters. On the audio side, the audience was immersed in a periphonic sound field, acoustically placing listeners inside the instrument. The architecture of the graphical side of the installation is made of acoustic analysis and calibration, mapping from sound levels to animation, visual calibration, real-time multi-layer graphical composition and animation. It opens new perspectives to musical instrument augmentation where the purpose is to make the instrument more legible while offering the audience enhanced artistic content.

Millions of people in Canada have impairments that result in a loss of function and directly affect their ability to carry out activities of daily living. Many individuals with disabilities enter into rehabilitation programs to improve their motor functioning and quality of life. Currently, many of the activities and exercises that are performed are monotonous, uninteresting, and do not inspire patients to perform to the best of their abilities. The usage of traditional exercises can also make it difficult for therapists to objectively measure and track patient progress. The integration of highly interactive and immersive technologies into rehabilitation programs has the potential to benefit both patients and therapists. We have developed a multi-touch tabletop system, the AIR Touch, which combines existing multi-touch technologies with a suite of new rehabilitation-centric applications. The AIR Touch was developed under the guidance of practicing occupational therapists. Author Keywords Multi-touch tabletop, interactive surface, occupational

In this paper we investigate tangible interaction on interactive tabletops. These afford the support and integration of physical artefacts for the manipulation of digital media. To inform the design of interfaces for interactive surfaces we think it is necessary to deeply understand the benefits of employing such physical handles, i.e., the benefits of employing a third spatial dimension at the point of interaction. To this end we conducted an experimental study by designing and comparing two versions of an interactive tool on a tabletop display, one with a physical 3D handle, and one purely graphical (but direct touch enabled). Whilst hypothesizing that the 3D version would provide a number of benefits, our observations revealed that users developed diverse interaction approaches and attitudes about hybrid and direct touch interaction. Categories and Subject Descriptors H5.2 [Information interfaces and presentation]: User Interfaces.-