TAOs

Publications: Dissertation is published

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0100

Sometimes, it has been quite a journey, but now the dissertation about the TAOs is published and can be downloaded directly from this server . Alternatively, you can visit the publication server page of the Bielefeld University.

It summs up the previous publications on the TAOs and puts them into a larger context including background information on the reasearch field. We also present an overview on the hardware and software extensions and develop an initial set of design guidelines for developing surface-based acutated multi-modal tangible user interfaces.

For readers interested in a printed version, this can be ordered via Amazon Print on Demand .

Cover text:
Making information understandable and literally graspable is the main goal of tangible interaction research. By giving digital data physical representations (Tangible User Interface Objects, or TUIOs), they can be used and manipulated like everyday objects with the users’ natural manipulation skills. Such physical interaction is basically of uni-directional kind, directed from the user to the system, limiting the possible interaction patterns. In other words, the system has no means to actively support the physical interaction. Within the frame of tabletop tangible user interfaces, this problem was addressed by the introduction of actuated TUIOs, that are controllable by the system. In this thesis, we present the development of our own actuated TUIOs and address multiple interaction concepts we identified as research gaps in literature on actuated Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs).

Project: ChordCubes (Master's Thesis)

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0200

Florian Sprengel submitted his Master’s Thesis “ChordCubes”, a music application incorporating the TAOs.

Abstract: “For a musician to grow and become more proficient as an instrumentalist it takes a fair amount of practice. But to also develop musicality requires more than the numb and repetitive exercising of scales. In order to make musical practice both efficient and entertaining, we propose a new musical practice tool that is based on a Tangible User Interface (TUI).

By reviewing existing musical practice tools and music-related Tangible User Interfaces, we present the requirements for such a system and argue why TUIs in particular are suited to accommodate musicians’ needs. As a proof of concept we will outline a musical practice tool and describe its implementation, using a surface computing device and special Tangible User Interface Objects (TUIOs). We followed up by conducting a user study with professional musicians to asses the usability of our system. This study supports our belief that the incorporation of Tangible User Interfaces in the domain of musical practice can be fruitful. Finally, we will present a set of fresh ideas for future music-related TUIs that have been sparked by the musicians we have worked with.”

Master Student

Florian Sprengel

Supervisor

Eckard Riedenklau

Presentations: ScienceFair 2013 in Bielefeld

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Again, I participated in the ScienceFair. This time I was quite successful! Actually I won. ;-)

The first part of the price money (1000 EUR) I’m going to spend on a new mobile robot platform (a 3pi by Polulu) for my research and a set of new batteries for the existing TAOs. I think the rest will go into my upcoming relocation.

Press release (German): Sieger der [science fair] stehen fest

Currently I’m not going to publish poster, as the content is based on yet unpublished parts of my thesis.

Presentations: ScienceFair 2012 in Bielefeld

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Especially for my German fellows (German only):

Letzte Woche habe ich im Rahmen der diesjährigen “<perspektive>” hier an der Uni Bielefeld mit meinem Projekt an der ScienceFair teilgenommen. Ich veröffentliche das Poster hier erneut für die Allgemeinheit – es erklärt den Grundgedanken meines Forschungsprojekts nämlich in allgemeinverständlichem Deutsch und nicht wie sonst auf Englisch. Wer mir also bisher nicht so ganz folgen konnte, kann es nun noch mal in aller Ruhe in Schrift mit netten Bildern versuchen.

Ich wünsche euch viel Spaß. ;-)

Project: Active Home EntertAinment Desk (Student Project)

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200

The Active Home EntertAinment Desk (AHEAD) is a universal multi-user tabletop media navigation and control system for the living room. It consists of actuated (robotic) and passive tangible objects used on a large interactive surface (Samsung SUR40). With AHEAD, users can browse, navigate and control available media data and devices, implementing the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard, such as modern televisions and other media devices. Thereby our system is compatible with most current television sets and home entertainment systems and acts as a universal control for several multimedia devices.

It is also usable by multiple users simultaneously and combines the strengths of interactive surfaces and tangible tabletop systems. The first prototype of AHEAD was developed using a 22” multi-touch display by 3M, and was later ported to a SUR40 device. Both implementations as well as their interaction design are presented and discussed in this paper.

Student Participants

Birte Carlmeyer
Viktor Richter
Thomas Schöpping

Supervisors

Eckard Riedenklau
René Tünnermann

Conferences: After the TEI2012

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The TEI2012 is over and I must say that it really was a great success!

You find my publication under this link .

Thank you so much! That was great!

Conferences: Impressions of Kingston

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

I safely arrived in Kingston where this year’s TEI conference is being held and I started my stay with a little walk around the town. Find some pictures on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ursus_explorans/sets/72157629389042137/

I will post more pictures during my visit here and later Montreal (very likely). Enjoy and stay tuned! :-)

Conferences: TEI2012

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Last week I finally registered for the TEI2012 and organized my stay in Canada. Is there anybody else attending the Studio “Designing and Building Inexpensive Flexible Circuits” or the Snow-shoeing at Little Cataraqui Conservation Area?

See you in Kingston! ;-)

Conferences: ...and a new year has begun

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The most recent development is an accepted paper for the TEI2012 conference, which will take place in Kingston, Ontario, Canada from February 19th till 22nd. The title is “An integrated multi-modal actuated Tangible User Interface for distributed collaborative planning”. I’m really looking forward to this trip, since I already know that I will meet friends, I made last year in Orlando. Furthermore I will have the opportunity to visit former fellow students and friends from Bielefeld who moved to Montreal.

This year will also be my last year as a grant holder for my PhD. So I’m going to finish my thesis in the course of 2012. If everything goes right, there will be at least one journal paper submission this year.

2012 will be again a year full of work (I think there won’t be any more years with less things to do). But I’m sure I will have enough motivation to cope with all this. :-)

Happy new year and all the best for 2012, Eckard

Conferences: The old year is over...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

2011 was a year full of work. There was the AMiRE and the HCII.

My colleague Risto and I organized a Special Session at the ICIRA. So many more little things happened and some you may have realized through following me on Twitter.