Sören Lenman

Using marking menus to develop command sets for computer vision based hand gesture interfaces

This paper presents the first stages of a project that studies the use of hand gestures for interaction, in an approach based on computer vision. A first prototype for exploring the use of marking menus for interaction has been built. The purpose is not menu-based interaction per se, but to study if marking menus, with practice, could support the development of autonomous command sets for gestural interaction. Some early observations are reported, mainly concerning problems with user fatigue and precision of gestures. Future work is discussed, such as introducing flow menus for reducing fatigue, and control menus for continuous control functions. The computer vision algorithms will also have to be developed further.

Private and public spaces: the use of video mediated communication in a future home environment

This video demonstration is based on scenarios of a familys everyday activities supported by video mediated communication (VMC). It was recorded in comHOME, a concept dwelling of the future. The principal issue explored in the comHOME project, and in the video, concerns various aspects of private and public spaces using VMC. The design concept is based on the integration of different comZONES (communication zones), where the resident can be seen and/or heard. The architectural space, then, in combination with information and communication technology (ICT) solutions forms an interface to the digital world. A main observation from the making of the video is that it is a very good complementary method in a complex design-process because of the focus on the user perspective.

Five years' experience from CID: An interdisciplinary competence centre for design of usable interactive IT applications

The Centre for user oriented IT Design (CID) at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden was established in 1995. CID brings together researchers and designers from computer science, arts, media and communication, and human sciences with industry and user organizations. The focus is on the design and study of usable, interactive IT applications, integrating usability aspects, technical aspects and aesthetic aspects. The main themes of CIDs activities are Connected communities, Interactive learning environments, Forms of interaction and User orientation, the latter which is also a central aspect of the work in the other areas. In this paper, experience from the first 5 years of CID is described and discussed.