Paul Strohmeier

PaperTab: an electronic paper computer with multiple large flexible electrophoretic displays

We present Papertab, a paper computer with multiple 10.7 functional touch sensitive flexible electrophoretic displays. Papertab merges the benefits of working with electronic documents with the tangibility of paper documents. In Papertab, each document window is represented as a physical, functional, flexible e-paper screen called a displaywindow. Each displaywindow is an Android computer that can show documents at varying resolutions. The location of displaywindows is tracked on the desk using an electro-magnetic tracker. This allows for context-aware operations between displaywindows. Touch and bend sensors in each displaywindow allow users to navigate content.

DisplaySkin: Exploring Pose-Aware Displays on a Flexible Electrophoretic Wristband

Mobile devices can provide people with contextual information. This information may benefit a primary activity, assuming it is easily accessible. In this paper, we present DisplaySkin, a pose-aware device with a flexible display circling the wrist. DisplaySkin creates a kinematic model of a users arm and uses it to place information in view, independent of body pose. In doing so, DisplaySkin aims to minimize the cost of accessing information without being intrusive. We evaluated our pose-aware display with a rotational pointing task, which was interrupted by a notification on DisplaySkin. Results show that a pose-aware display reduces the time required to respond to notifications on the wrist.

With a flick of the wrist: stretch sensors as lightweight input for mobile devices

With WristFlicker, we detect wrist movement through sets of stretch sensors embedded in clothing. Our system supports wrist rotation (pronation/supination), and both wrist tilts (flexion/extension and ulnar/radial deviation). Each wrist movement is measured by two opposing stretch sensors, mimicking the counteracting movement of muscles. We discuss interaction techniques that allow a user to control a music player through this lightweight input.

PrintPut: Resistive and Capacitive Input Widgets for Interactive 3D Prints

We introduce PrintPut, a method for 3D printing that embeds interactivity directly into printed objects. PrintPut uses conductive filament to offer an assortment of sensors that an industrial designer can easily incorporate into their 3D designs, including buttons, pressure sensors, sliders, touchpads, and flex sensors. PrintPut combines physical and interactive sketching into the same process: seamlessly integrating sensors onto the surfaces of 3D objects, without the need for external sensor hardware.

PaperTab: tablets as thin and flexible as paper

We present PaperTab, a paper tablet computer that allows physical manipulation of windows embodied in multiple flexible displays. PaperTab offers the benefits of updating electronic information on the fly, while maintaining the haptic/kinesthetic feedback of tangible documents, as each document is a fully functional, paper-like E Ink display. We present windowing techniques for a paper computer that relies on multiple physical windows. Our between-display interactions are based on the proximity of a display to the user. They are categorized into hot zones, for active editing, warm zones for temporary storage, and cold zones for long-term storage. Our within-display interactions use pointing with a display as a focus+context tool.

DIY IR sensors for augmenting objects and human skin

Interaction designers require simple methods of creating ad-hoc sensors for prototyping interactive objects. Methods of creating custom sensing solutions commonly include various capacitive and resistive techniques. Near-infrared (IR) sensing solutions can be used as an alternative to these established methods. There are many situations in which IR sensors may be a preferred method of input, such as grasp detection and touch interactions on the skin. In this paper we outline the general approach for designing IR sensors and discuss the design and applications of two custom sensors.

Effects of Display Sizes on a Scrolling Task using a Cylindrical Smartwatch

With a growing interest in wrist-worn devices, research has typically focused on expanding the available interaction area for smartwatches. In this paper, we instead investigate how different display sizes influence task performance, while maintaining a consistent input area. We conducted an experiment in which users completed a scrolling task using a small display, a large display, and a cylindrical display wrapped around the wrist. We found that the large and cylindrical displays resulted in faster task performances than the small display. We also found that the cylindrical display removed constraints on the participants body pose, suggesting that cylindrical displays have unique benefits for mobile interactions.

Mood fern: exploring shape transformations in reactive environments

We present Mood Fern: digital flora which responds to touch. Depending on the length and intensity of the touch a subset of leaves physically react. The leaves respond on a spectrum of slight oscillation, imitating the effects of swaying in a slight breeze, to complete deformation, as if they were physically trying to respond in a similar manner. Mood Ferns reference to nature highlights its appeal to calm computing. Painted capacitive sensors mimic the appearance of leaf veins and Flexinol SMA wire is used to actuate The Mood Ferns paper structures.

GoonQuad: an emotive quadruped for exploring human-robot interaction

We present GoonQuad, an emotive quadruped capable of expressing emotional behaviours as a response to human touch. GoonQuad comprises five prerecorded states: angry, cheerful, sleepy, confused and a baseline breathing state. Each state is triggered by human touch in areas specified by the eyebrows and a tattoo, painted with conductive ink. Moreover, GoonQuad is capable of recording and replaying movements via direct user manipulation. To enable the robot to record and replay new motions, analog feedback servos were embedded in the 3D printed structure. Our aim was to develop a system where users can interact with a robot naturally and the robot can adapt to this natural interaction.