Thomas Gründer

DepthTouch: an elastic surface for tangible computing

In this paper we describe DepthTouch, an installation which explores future interactive surfaces and features elastic feedback, allowing the user to go deeper than with regular multi-touch surfaces. DepthTouchs elastic display allows the user to create valleys and ascending slopes by depressing or grabbing its textile surface. We describe the experimental approach for eliciting appropriate interaction metaphors from interaction with real materials and the resulting digital prototype.

FlexiWall: Exploring Layered Data with Elastic Displays

By their deformable screen-materials elastic displays and projection screens provide physical three-dimensional interaction modalities like push, pull or bend. Compared with conventional Multi-Touch displays they offer an additional interaction dimension which can be used to explore data. In this article we describe the FlexiWall, a large elastic display, and several example applications using layered data sets. The exploration of several layers and correlations between these is not common to traditional user interfaces, where the interaction is often constrained to two dimensions. Therefore, new forms of interaction are introduced. We furthermore propose additional techniques and tools to explore layered data sets, e.g. utilizing transparent objects when interacting with elastic displays.

FlexiWall: Interaction in-between 2D and 3D Interfaces

Elastic displays offer new ways to interact with multi-dimensional data by using the deformation of the surface as a tool to explore, filter, structure, or manipulate data. While a large number of prototypes exist, a general concept for using this promising technology in real-world application domains has not been established. In this paper, we introduce a framework about elastic displays and their applications with reference to the interaction techniques they provide. We investigate the data applicable to elastic displays and the appropriate interaction techniques. Using this approach, it is possible to identify strengths and weaknesses of this technology regarding specific scenarios, to find commonalities to traditional user interfaces and to explore novel concepts for interaction.

Natural interface exploration

Finding new and compelling approaches to interaction design for natural user interfaces, is challenging. The Natural Interface Exploration studio will offer participants the opportunity to explore interaction design for natural user interfaces based on physical substances that are used in everyday life. Studio organizers will present an overview of their methodology, providing examples of their experience [1, 2] and comparing it to other approaches. They will demonstrate how they analyze natural substances regarding the aspects of visualization and interaction and what kind of interfaces resulted [3, 4, 5] from these findings in initial workshops (see Figure 3 and 4). Following the demonstration, participants will form teams and collaboratively decide which substances or materials they would like to analyze. After examining and charting relevant aspects, the teams will chose a certain task to be solved with a new kind of interface. Example tasks will be provided by the studio organizers. The next step will be to decompose the tasks into required interaction and information needs. Finally participants will develop their own interface mock-up using stop motion or paper prototyping. Finally, studio organizers will facilitate a group critique session and offer closing thoughts on employing this methodology in ones creative TEI practice.

Towards Glyph-based visualizations for big data clustering

Data Analysts have to deal with an ever-growing amount of data resources. One way to make sense of this data is to extract features and use clustering algorithms to group items according to a similarity measure. Algorithm developers are challenged when evaluating the performance of the algorithm since it is hard to identify features that influence the clustering. Moreover, many algorithms can be trained using a semi-supervised approach, where human users provide ground truth samples by manually grouping single items. Hence, visualization techniques are needed that help data analysts achieve their goal in evaluating Big data clustering algorithms. In this context, Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) has become a prominent visualization tool. In this paper, we propose a combination with glyphs that can provide a detailed view of specific features involved in MDS. In consequence, human users can understand, adjust, and ultimately improve clustering algorithms. We present a thorough glyph design, which is founded in a comprehensive survey of related work and report the results of a controlled experiments, where participants solved data analysis tasks with both glyphs and a traditional textual display of data values.

Big data landscapes: improving the visualization of machine learning-based clustering algorithms

With the internet, massively heterogeneous data sources need to be understood and classified to provide suitable services to users such as content observation, data exploration, e-commerce, or adaptive learning environments. The key to providing these services is applying machine learning (ML) in order to generate structures via clustering and classification. Due to the intricate processes involved in ML, visual tools are needed to support designing and evaluating the ML pipelines. In this contribution, we propose a comprehensive tool that facilitates the analysis and design of ML-based clustering algorithms using multiple visualization features such as semantic zoom, glyphs, and histograms.

Metaphernproduktion für Begreifbare Benutzerschnittstellen

Zusammenfassung In der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion werden konkrete Bilder oder Gestaltstrukturen ausgewählt, um sie als Metaphern auf abstrakte Funktionen und Operationen eines technischen Systems zu übertragen. In diesem Aufsatz wird eine Methode vorgestellt, mit welcher die Metapher im Sinne der Gestaltung von Begreifbaren Benutzerschnittstellen produziert wird. Durch die Interaktion mit alltäglichen Stoffen und Strukturen werden neue Metaphern gefunden und erforscht. Die vorgestellte Methode wird mit Beispielen der studentischen Feldforschung illustriert. Abstract The designers of human-computer interfaces use metaphors to transfer functions and operations of a known concept onto a new, abstract function in a technical system. After defining the concept of metaphor, we derive a method to find and explore new ones. The focus of the essay is on designing graspable user interfaces. While most of the literature takes a repertoire of metaphors for granted, we utilize materials and substances from daily life to investigate how to interact with them. This method is illustrated by examples of student-based research.