Blog Post #1- Imaginary Interfaces

Reference Information

Title:
Imaginary interfaces: spatial interaction with empty hands and without visual feedback

Authors:
Sean Gustafson     Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam, Germany
Daniel Bierwirth     Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam, Germany
Patrick Baudisch     Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam, Germany                            
   
   
   
Summary

This paper is addressed the topic of literally "Imaginary interfaces."  What they mean by this is a device that captures hand gestures and motions but provides no feedback in the form of screens, projectors, or anything else.  This is a unique concept because most other devices have either a projector or use an extremely limited vocabulary of allowed hand gestures to signal the computer.  For example, you might have ten different pre-programmed commands to be able to signal certain actions such as opening a door.  But in this paper, the authors go further and suggest a device that allows unlimited options and hand gestures.  They propose that the device allow users to set a 2D coordinate plane with one hand then use their other hand to draw on this imaginary screen.  The have evidence that the average user's attention span is long enough to remember the location of the things they draw allowing them to use such a device.  The Authors also go into detail about the advantages of such a system.  Among these are the fact that the user does not need to carry a device allowing them to free up space on their person and in their hands and the recent trend in the use of hand gestures as the primary method of maniuplating interfaces.


Discussion

I am not really sure what to put in my discussion section this time... The idea seems interesting but I am very sceptical about the practical uses.  Especially with the interference of random movements, can such a system actually be implemented? Even if it is, people LIKE the ability to see what they are manipulating.  I don't think we can turn people away from popular past time of staring at their tiny cell phone screens at all times in public.