Paper Reading #4: Tangible Interfaces for Download

Comments:
http://jaiachi.blogspot.com/
http://jngonzales-chi2011.blogspot.com/

Reference:
Tangible Interfaces for Download: Initial Observations from Users' Everyday Environments
Enrico Costanza, Olivier Kung, Matteo Giaccone, Simon Shelly, Jeffery Huang
CHI '10

Summary:
Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) have been hyped for the past 15 years, but such interfaces are typically only found in museums and research labratories.  The authors of this paper have designed a program called Audio d-touch, a TUI for synthesizing music.  The program is relatively inexpensive, requiring only a webcam, printer, and computer.  Audio d-touch uses the webcam to view a printed board or mat, upon which printed blocks are placed.  These blocks can be folded from the paper, or pasted onto common household items.  The setup works through calibrating the board via markers on the corners.  It then processes information depending on how the blocks are arranged on the board. 

Currently Audio d-touch has only two fully functional modes.  The first is a drum machine, with the x-positions on the board representing the time of the drum strike, and the y-positions determining the type of drum used.  The second mode is a music sequencer.  As before, the x-position relates to time, but this time the y-position determines the playback volume.

The developers of Audio d-touch released their product to the public, then tracked feedback from the users.  The program typically operated without a hitch, though it would not always work properly in poor lighting.  In general, feedback on the product has been positive and optimistic.

Discussion:
The idea of TUIs is an interesting one.  One of the common gripes associated with motion-driven interfaces, like the Xbox 360 peripheral Kinect, is that users want something to interact with instead of flailing blindly into space.  A TUI would be a way to bridge that gap.  On the other hand, I have to wonder what general use applications could be derived from this technology.  Based on how the product is described, it seems this technology is limited to specific applications, each requiring its own board and pieces.  Furthermore, what can be done to prevent losing information when accidently bumping a table?  While I believe this technology will enjoy greater commercial use in the future, I don't expect it to replace the mouse and keyboard anytime soon.