Conference article

Multi-State Device Tracking for Tangible Tabletops

Ali Alavi
t2i Lab, Chalmers, Sweden

Brice Clocher
t2i Lab, Chalmers, Sweden

Allen Smith
t2i Lab, Chalmers, Sweden

Andreas Kunz
ICVR, ETH, Switzerland

Morten Fjeld
t2i Lab, Chalmers, Sweden

Download article

Published in: Proceedings of SIGRAD 2011. Evaluations of Graphics and Visualization — Efficiency; Usefulness; Accessibility; Usability; November 17-18; 2011; KTH; Stockholm; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 65:14, p. 99-103

Show more +

Published: 2011-11-21

ISBN: 978-91-7393-008-6

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

On tangible tabletops; Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) can signalize their identity; position; orientation; and state by active infrared light. This provides rich interaction capabilities in complex; dynamic scenarios. If TUIs have to transfer additional high-resolution information; many bits are required for each update. This has a negative impact on the overall update rate of the system. In the first part of this paper; we present an in-house map application where interaction with time-dependent contour lines may benefit from high-resolution TUI states. Prototypical TUI concepts such as slider; ruler; and dials further motivate the benefit of high-resolution tracking. In the second part of the paper; we depart from a device tracking overview and then show how tangible devices for tabletops typically use infrared (IR) emitters and a camera to send information about their position; orientation; and state. Since transferring many additional information bits via a normal camera-based tabletop system is not feasible anymore; we introduce next a new system setup that still offers a sufficiently high update rate for a smooth interaction. The new method can be realized as a tabletop system using a low-cost camera detecting position; combined with a low-cost infrared receiver detecting the state of each device. Since both kinds of sensors are used simultaneously we call the method “dual mode.” This method combines a camera-based tracking with the possibility to transfer an almost unlimited amount of states for each device.

Keywords

Active tangible devices; tabletop; dual mode; IR tracking; multiple TUI

References

[FB09] FJELD M.; BARENDREGT W.: Epistemic action: A measure for cognitive support in tangible user interfaces? Behavior Research Methods 41; 3 (2009); 876–881.

[GSK06] GANSER C.; STEINEMANN A.; KUNZ A.: Infractables: Multi-user tracking system for interactive surfaces. In Proc. of the IEEE conference on Virtual Reality (VR ’06) (2006); pp. 253– 256.

[HK11] HOCHENBAUM J.; KAPUR A.: Adding z-depth and pressure expressivity to tangible tabletop surfaces. In Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (Oslo; Norway; 2011); Jensenius A. R.; Tveit A.; Godøy R. I.; Overholt D.; (Eds.); pp. 240–243.

[HKK08] HOFER R.; KAPLAN P.; KUNZ A.: Mighty trace: Multiuser technology on lcds. In Proc. CHI ’08 (2008); pp. 215–218.

[HNK09] HOFER R.; NESCHER T.; KUNZ A.: Qualitrack: Highspeed tui tracking for tabletop applications. In Human-Computer Interaction; INTERACT 2009; Gross T.; Gulliksen J.; Kotz P.; Oestreicher L.; Palanque P.; Prates R.; Winckler M.; (Eds.); vol. 5727 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer Berlin; Heidelberg; 2009; pp. 332–335.

[Hof11] HOFER R.: Tracking technologies for interactive tabletop surfaces. PHD Thesis; ETH Zurich; 2011.

[IMH05] IGARASHI T.; MOSCOVICH T.; HUGHES J.: As-rigidas- possible shape manipulation. ACM Trans. Graph. 24; 3 (July 2005); 1134–1141.

[IU97] ISHII H.; ULLMER B.: Tangible bits: Towards seamless interfaces between people; bits and atoms. In Proc. CHI ’97 (1997); pp. 234–241.

[KF10] KUNZ A.; FJELD M.: From table-system to tabletop: Integrating technology into interactive surfaces. Human-Computer Interaction Series. 2010; pp. 53–72.

[PHF09] PIAZZA T.; HELLER H.; FJELD M.: Cermit: Co-located and remote collaborative system for emergency response management. In Proc. SIGRAD 2009 (2009); pp. 12–20.

[SHB10] SCHOENING J.; HOOK J.; BARTINDALE T.; SCHMIDT D.; OLIVER P.; ECHTLER F.; MOTAMEDI N.; BRANDL P.; ZADOW U.: Building Interactive Multi-touch Surfaces; Tabletops - Horizontal Interactive Displays. Springer; 2010.

[SJG06] SHAHROKNI A.; JENARO J.; GUSTAFSSON T.; VINNBERG A.; SANDSJO A.; FJELD M.: One-dimensional force feedback slider: going from an analogue to a digital platform. In Proc. NordiCHI ’06 (2006); pp. 435–456.

[SR09] SHEN C.; RYALL K. E. A.: Collaborative tabletop research and evaluation: Interfaces and interactions for direct-touch horizontal surfaces. In Interactive artifacts and furniture supporting collaborative work and learning; Dillenbourg P.; Huang J.; Cherubini M.; (Eds.). Springer Science and Business Media; New York; Oslo; Norway; 2009; pp. 111–128.

[WWJ06] WEISS M.; WAGNER J.; JANSEN Y.; JENNINGS R.; KHOSHABEH R.; HOLLAN J.; BORCHERS J.: Slap widgets: bridging the gap between virtual and physical controls on tabletops. In Proc. CHI ’09 (2006); pp. 481–490.

Citations in Crossref