Paper Reading #10: Enabling Beyond-Surface Interactions for Interactive Surface with An Invisible Projection

Comments:

Reference Information:
Title: Enabling Beyond-Surface Interactions for Interactive Surface with An Invisible Projection
Author: Li-Wei Chan, Hsiang-Tao Wu, Hui-Shan Kao, Ju-Chun Ko, Home-Ru Lin,
Mike Y. Chen, Jane Hsu, Yi-Ping Hung
Venue: UIST

Summary:
The authors describe the use of infrared techniques on a diffused illumination multi-touch system. Using this system, tangible objects can track their position in order to interact with the multi-touch table. The authors describe three specific objects that they implemented for this system. The first object is the i-m-Lamp, which is very similar in design to a desk lamp. The i-m-Lamp is used to enhance an area on the multi-touch table so that it is highly focused and easier to read.

The second device used was the i-m-Flashlight. This device functioned similarly to the lamp, however it could move freely and therefore offered greater mobility.

The last device created was the i-m-View which was a table that allowed for 3D viewing of the 2D surface projected onto the multi-touch table.

Users of these objects reported mostly positive experiences. One problem encountered with these objects was that users of the i-m-View felt isolated from the 2D surface on the multi-touch table as they became to immersed in the 3D tablet. To combat this, the authors created a yellow ring around the 3D objects on the tablet to represent where the bound were on the table.

Discusssion:
 At first, I was really confused as to what this paper was about. I originally though it was simply about using a lamp to bring objects into focus on a multi-touch surface. After reading it through a few times however, I realized these are simply examples of how the system could be used to interact with tangible objects through infrared techniques. While I was not too interested in the i-m-Lamp or i-m-Flashlight, I was very impressed by the i-m-View. It is easy to see how this system could be used with tangible objects to create a variety of practical devices.