Tangible Interfaces for Computers

Jesrad writes "A friend pointed me to this impressive demonstration of the SenseTable by James Patten, of the Tangible Media Group project of the MIT. This project aims at conceiving better human-machine interfaces by using the concept of physical objects that the user can manipulate, to represent abstract computer data and commands. The device looks and works a lot like what was envisioned in Minority Report, it uses pressure to track blocks on a sensitive surface, and feeds back to the user by superimposing graphical data. Want to change the volume of your MP3 player? Just put a block on it and turn like you would a radio knob. Menus and commands are accessed by moving a block along command hierarchy, represented in a simple tree, or by touching the command's name. So far it only lacks a device for text input, like a keyboard, but maybe voice recognition will replace it?"

Star Trek IV

[holt_rpi]

SCOTTY: Computer....Computer? (Technician hands SCOTTY the mouse. SCOTTY uses it as a microphone) Hello, computer.

TECHNICIAN: Just use the keyboard!

SCOTTY: The keyboard? How quaint!

Now when somebody asks...

[p4ul13]

"Where's the any key?"

You'll have to reply with "Well where did you leave it last?"

Talking to my computer...

[haydon4]

So far it only lacks a device for text input, like a keyboard, but maybe voice recognition will replace it?

I talk to my computer enough as it is. The day that it actually listens to me is that day that I'll have to rebuild it every other week, and red will be the day when it starts talking back to me.

Is it any more tangible...

[Anonymous Coward]

...than this movement-sensitive plastic block I have on my desk right now. It actually responds to the physical movements of my hand and includes pressure-sensitive areas that allow me to interact with virtual desktop metaphors. I can actually move this device over the virtual mp3 player on my desktop and apply pressure to one of the sensitive areas to change to volume.

Tangible is not the right word..

[wfberg]

I think "loseable" would be a better one.. I can't even find the remote control for my TV most of the time (and I have 3 RCs); it would be a BAD idea to have all sorts of controls that do different things and contain state information.. Can you imagine losing the volume knob?

does it mean

[Anonymous Coward]

i will really be touching those hot cybergirls? ^^

Neato

[Jesus 2.0]

This project aims at conceiving better human-machine interfaces by using the concept of physical objects that the user can manipulate, to represent abstract computer data and commands.

You mean they're going to invent the mouse and the keyboard? Awesome.

Re:Is it any more tangible...

[Anonymous Coward]

Strange. I tried what you're describing, I moved the thing over the monitor to the iTunes window and pressed it on the volume control but it didn't work. That, and I can't see the screen behind the plastic block thing, that's most unpractical.

Re:Or, alternatively,

[Micro$will]

If a new input device (maybe a nipple? :) ) was introduced which was intuitive, easy to use and had a significant advantage over the current devices, I think it would be picked up in a second.

A nipple is no good in it's current implimentation, which explains why I use a USB mouse with my Thinkpad. I find it very hard to suck on the nipple (Trackpoint), see the screen, and click the mouse buttons at the same time. Plus my boss accuses me of sleeping on the job due to "keyboard face".

Re:Oral audible hell

[temojen]

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int mane back maine back main bracket back ( int argh! see back back a r g c commet back , char star back ** a r g v ) brace back {
print f ( quote back "hello world") semicolon back ;
] no not that brace the other one back back back back back back back back }