Reto Wettach

Living interfaces: the thrifty faucet

In this paper, we present a novel type of persuasive home appliance: A thrifty water faucet. Through a servo motor construction, it is enabled to move and behave in life-like manners and to step into dialogue with the user. For example about water consumption or hygiene. We sought to research the reactions of users to such an appliance, alongside possible implications for the design of future human-machine interfaces. This project is part of a larger series of experiments in the Living Interfaces project, exploring ways in which reduced and abstract life-like movements can be beneficial for Human-Machine Interaction.

Fritzing: a tool for advancing electronic prototyping for designers

Today a growing community of DIY-practitioners, artists and designers are using microcontroller-based toolkits to express their concepts for digital artifacts by building them. However, as these prototypes are generally constructed using solder-free technologies, they are often fragile and unreliable. This means a huge burden of care and upkeep for these inventions when they are either exhibited or sold. We present a software application called Fritzing which allows artists, designers and DIY-tinkerers to prepare their hardware inventions for production. Through an interface metaphor based on the typical workflow of the target group, Fritzing has proven its ability to provide useful support in the steps following the invention of an interactive artifact. Fritzing serves also as a tool for documenting these interactive artifacts. As sharing of knowledge has been a driving force within this new DIY-movement, there is a need for a consistent and readable form of documentation which Fritzing can provide. Fritzing has also proven to be a useful tool in teaching electronics to people without an engineering background.

Dynamic knobs: shape change as a means of interaction on a mobile phone

In this paper, we introduce the change of a mobile phones hardware shape as a means of tactile interaction. The alteration of shape is implemented in a hardware prototype using a dynamic knob as an interaction device for the user. The knob alters the phones shape according to different events and states, like incoming calls, new voice mail, or missed calls. Therefore, the user can explore the phones status by touching it -- ambiently, even through the pocket. Initial user testing showed that this form of tactile interaction was easy to understand and handy to interact with, also for unexperienced users.

A thermal information display for mobile applications

In this paper, we investigate possibilities and limitations of temperature change as a method for information display in mobile applications. While some widespread and well-recognized haptic displays such as force-feedback often trigger the users immediate attention, we will focus on ambient strategies for tactile information display, that is, the display of gradual state changes in the users periphery that do not unexpectedly interrupt her current tasks, but builds on the minds ability for subliminal perception of environmental change instead [1, 2]. To this end, we present a series of prototypes of mobile devices that display ambient information by means of thermal change based on the thermo-electric effect [3]. In order to assess the expedience and feasibility of such a display, a series of user tests have been conducted with respect to both, the ability for thermal change recognition and a concrete application scenario for such a display.

Exploring vibrotactile feedback on the body and foot for the purpose of pedestrian navigation

In this paper, we present an evaluation of vibrotactile onbody feedback for the purpose of pedestrian navigation. For this specific task, many researchers already provide different approaches such as vibrating belts, wristbands or shoes. Still, there are issues left that have to be considered, such as which body position is most suitable, what kind of vibration patterns are easy to interpret, and how applicable are vibrotactile feedback systems in real scenarios. To find answers, we reconstructed prototypes commonly found in literature and continued to further evaluate different foot-related designs. On the one hand, we learned that vibrotactile feedback at the foot reduces visual attention and thus also potentially reduces stress. However, on the other hand, we found that urban space can be very diverse, and ambiguous and therefore a vibrotactile system cannot completely replace common path finding systems for pedestrians. Rather, we envision such a system to be applied complementary as an assistive technology.

Living interfaces: the intimate door lock

In this paper we introduce a new way to interact intimately with an automated system. The Intimate Door Lock investigates the psychological effects of intimate humanhuman interaction being applied to man-machine interfaces. The door lock, in our prototype, is installed at the inside of a domestic front door, and remains locked until given a kiss by its owner. In our prototype, the element to be kissed is a camera-augmented mirror, which we intended to use as a means of lowering the inhibition level. This work is part of a larger series of experiments in the Living Interfaces project, exploring ways in which reduced life-like movements can be beneficial for Human-Machine Interaction.

Articulated paint: musical expression for non-musicians

In this paper we present the concept and prototype of a new musical interface that utilizes the close relationship between gestural expression in the act of painting and that of playing a musical instrument in order to provide non-musicians the opportunity to create musical expression. A physical brush on a canvas acts as the instrument. The characteristics of its stroke are intuitively mapped to a conductor program, defining expressive parameters of the tone in real-time. Two different interaction modes highlight the importance of bodily expression in making music as well as the value of a metaphorical visual representation.

Perspective change: a system for switching between on-screen views by closing one eye

This project explores the change of on-screen views through single-sided eye closure. A prototype was developed, three different applications are presented: Activating a sniper scope in a 3D shooter game, zooming out into a overview perspective over a web page, and filtering out icons on a cluttered desktop. Initial user testing results are presented.

First Step into Visceral Interaction with Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) seem to be the next big step into the future of mobility solutions. Various research institutions in the automobile industry and academic sectors are striving to come out with the most futuristic concept. This paper focuses on the interaction between AVs and pedestrians. Furthermore, the paper aims to explore if complex communication needs can be signaled to pedestrians through motion behavior of the vehicle. In order to learn how other road users feel surrounded by self-driving cars, participants were confronted with different drivability of a self-programmed vehicle during our evaluation. As the results show, the vehicles motion behavior is able to evoke certain emotions, which in turn lead to rational decisions within the participants. This can be seen as a form of mutual communication.

valeo: alienation gesture-enhanced tactile pain logging

In current healthcare research, pain logs are an important means to measure the impact of medication and to detect pain patterns. However, the entry of textual pain data may be negatively reinforcing, due to its character of direct confrontation with ones pain, potentially leading to a higher pain awareness. This paper introduces valeo, a new form of a tactile pain log, which is based on a vibrotactile, pressure- and tilt-sensitive device. Future iterations will also include body part recognition. By squeezing it close to ones own body, the subjective intensity of a local pain is manifested in the device. Via a shove gesture, it is then transmitted to a docking station. Advantageously, the pain data is covert and conceptually alienated from the patients body, which may support a possible relief. A proof-of-concept prototype and a user study indicate that our concept is perceived as convenient and reduces negative conditioning.