Monthly Archives: October 2013

Connecting physical objects with software. Technology enhanced playing with blocks to foster learning

Posted on by

Daniel Joerg, Martina Lucht & Tobias Schwandt

Abstract

The innovative shaping of human-machine-interfaces includes technological implications for consumer behaviour and could result in significant paradigm changes for the way computers are used for business, for private and for learning purposes. If we use trends in the entertainment industry (e.g. Wii or Kinect) as an indicator for a new need for physicality in interaction with digital media, we can determine the potential of this physicality for learning and creativity. In this paper the theoretical assumptions and practical implications of tangible user interfaces (TUIs) for learning issues are discussed. For that we propose a new input device named STID that takes haptic skills of human body into account.

[Link]

World Usability Day Slovenia 2013

Posted on by

World Usability Day Slovenia 2013 solicits submissions in a broad range of categories,
addressing all aspects of human-computer interaction. Authors are welcome to submit
submissions in the form of short research papers; workshop and tutorial proposals;
industrial reports; interactive experience posters; and organizational overviews.
The conference will be held from the 26th
to 29th

November in Ljubljana and Maribor. So far confirmed esteemed keynote speakers:

  • Dr. Geraldine Fitzpatrick,
    Head of Human Computer Interaction Group at Vienna University of Technology
  • Dr. Leena Arhippainen,
    User experience researcher at Center for Internet Excellence
  • Dr. David Geerts,
    Research Manager at Centre for User Experience Research, K.U.Leuven
  • Dr. Björn Stockleben,
    Coordinator MA Cross Media – Management at University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal
  • Ville Kairamo,
    Head of Demola and Protomo

More on event can be found in Call for Paper.

3D navigation natural interaction with movement sensor technology

Posted on by

Yin Ling

Abstract

This paper presents our designed three dimensional (3D) natural interaction navigation system using Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) CHR-6dm with ZigBee wireless technology for broader interactive coverage range usage. Related sensor interface software and sensor data observation are presented. Furthermore, local machine platform realization for Google Earth (GE) 3D navigation using movement of human beings is illustrated. In the end, global heritage navigation effect using this developed 3D gesture navigation system is shown.

[Link]

ITS 2013

Posted on by

As a researcher and a HCI enthusiast, I have always wanted to attend a major HCI conference. This year, I have been given an opportunity to visit one. As the CHI 2013, was already over by then, I have searched for other similar conferences and found UIST (User interface Software and Technology) 2013, which turned to be probably even a better choice, given my technical background. Even better, the conference was organized together with one of its offsprings, the ITS (Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces) 2013. So I immediately registered and a month later I have visited St. Andrews in Scotland for both of them. The first conference to take place was ITS 2013, so this blog post will be dedicated to it. I will write a separate post for the UIST 2013.

As the name already makes it clear, the ITS is all about interactive (more or less touch) surfaces. Mostly big surfaces, although there has also been some discussions about mobile devices. The invited speaker was Jeff Han of the Perceptive Pixel (now acquired by Microsoft), which was even more appropriate, as his viral TED talk was more or less the thing that got me into the entire multi-touch table business. He talked about his story, the rise of multi-touch displays and how to start a hardware start-up.

SAM_3375

Jeff Han at ITS 2013

The conference was quite diverse, I was amazed by what kind of crazy ideas do people get. This also got me thinking that the ITS community is quite open-minded (something that I cannot say for most of the computer vision community, that I am observing more frequently). I have yet to empirically verify this observation by submitting a paper, as the acceptance rate is quite low. I will only mention some ideas that really got me interested:

  • Using a knife and fork analogy for two finger gestures
  • A HTML5 development framework for multi-touch surfaces
  • Perceptual grouping and selection of elements
  • Combining surfaces with NFC communication
  • Investigating piano accords to design multi-touch menus
  • Textile displays
  • Latency estimation for interactive displays

The demo session had more than a dozen different technologies, from prototypes to devices that you can (in theory at least) actually buy. The second generation of Microsoft PixelSense was cool, as well as a three-display Multitaction setup by MultiTouch Ltd. from Finland. There were also some other more wacky ideas, like a water-based display that I do not see beyond a very wet prototype, however, they show (in my opinion at least) the openness of the community. Anyway, here are some photos.

Kinect Kiosk user experience evaluation

Posted on by

Ciril Bohak & Matija Marolt

Abstract

In this paper we present an evaluation of Kinect Kiosk user experience. We have created an example of evaluation system where users can decide which parameter values of the user interface are suitable for them. Our example shows how we can collect user feedback in form of voting system to adapt the user interface for average user. Such setup also al- lows user profiles that can store the information of user inter- face preferences for an individual user. The presented evaluation of touchless interfaces is novel and shows how user interface designers as well as user experience designers can create better user interfaces by using presented evaluation.

[Link]

HCI-IS 2013

Posted on by

We are glad to announce that we have successfully finished the second event organised by the HCI.si community, the scientific conference on Human Computer Interaction in Information Society. The conference took place on 9th of October 2013 at Jožef Stefan Institute.

There were eight contributions presented at the conference in two sections:

  • Kinect Kiosk user experience evaluation
    Ciril Bohak, Matija Marolt
  • 3D navigation natural interaction with movement sensor technology
    Yin Ling
  • Connecting physical objects with software. Technology enhanced playing with blocks to foster learning
    Daniel Joerg, Martina Lucht, Tobias Schwandt
  • Implicit photowork based on eye-gaze data
    Bojan Blažica
  • A website usability testing tool
    Franc Novak, Denis Špelič, Borut Žalik
  • Wireless medical device audio alarm
    Marko Pavlin
  • How to provide health-related information by mobile computing?
    Barbara Koroušić Seljak
  • Toward improved emergency call service: a usability test case study
    Miha Ristič, Franc Novak

IJS(foto: www.delo.si)

 

HCI course on Coursera

Posted on by

Online courses have became very popular recently. One of the most popular platforms that offers online education, Coursera, that offers numerous classes from variety of fields, will reboot their course on HCI.

The course starts on Monday 7th October. This course was already conducted three times.

From the course organisers:

“We’re again offering the apprentice track for those that keep up with lectures and do well on the quizzes, and a studio track for those that also do well on the design assignments. If you received an apprentice or studio certificate in a previous run of the course, you have the option of a studio practicum track that enables you to continue to practice your design skills by completing the design assignments and receiving peer feedback, without needing to retake the quizzes.”

You can find the course at http://hci-class.org/.

HCI-IS schedule

Posted on by

The schedule for conference HCI-IS is now public. The conference will be held on 9th October 2013 in “Orange room” at Josef Stefan Institute. There will be two sessions in the conference.

Session A (9.30 – 11.00)

Chair: Franc Novak

  • Opening and Keynote (Franc Novak, Ciril Bohak)
  • Ciril Bohak, Matija Marolt – Kinect Kiosk user experience evaluation
  • Yin Ling – 3D navigation natural interaction with movement sensor technology
  • Daniel Joerg, Martina Lucht, Tobias Schwandt – Connecting physical objects with software. Technology enhanced playing with blocks to foster learning
  • Bojan Blažica – Implicit photowork based on eye-gaze data

Session B (11.30 – 12.45)

Chair: Ciril Bohak

  • Franc Novak, Denis Špelič, Borut Žalik – A website usability testing tool
  • Marko Pavlin – Wireless medical device audio alarm
  • Barbara Koroušić Seljak – How to provide health-related information by mobile computing?
  • Miha Ristič, Franc Novak – Toward improved emergency call service: a usability test case study