Reference Information:
Malte Weiss, Florian Schwarz, Simon Jakubowski, and Jan Borchers. "Madgets: actuating widgets on interactive tabletops". UIST '10 Proceedings of the 23nd annual ACM symposium on User interface software and technology ACM New York, NY, USA ©2010. ISBN: 978-1-4503-0271-5.
Author Bios:
Malte Weiss- He is a PhD student at the Media Computing Group of RWTH Aachen University.
Florian Schwarz- Student assistant in the Media Computing Group of RWTH Aachen University.
Simon Jakubowski- Student assistant in the Media Computing Group of RWTH Aachen University.
Jan Borchers- Jan Borchers is full professor of computer science and head of the Media Computing Group at RWTH Aachen University. With his research group, he explores the field of human-computer interaction, with a particular interest in new post-desktop user interfaces for smart environments, ubiquitous computing, interactive exhibits, and time-based media such as audio and video.
Summary:
- Hypothesis: If the authors's algorithm of recognition and manipulation can decompose the widgets into rigid bodies that can be actuated independently, then they will show that this actuation concept prepares the ground for a new class of actuated tabletop tangibles: magnetic widgets, or Madgets.
- Methods: The authors's actuation algorithm triggers magnets attached to their design board to manipulate permanannt magnets attached to widgets for interactions. The different kinds of actuational directions that this algorithm deals with are tangential and normal (x-y and z, respectively). The movement algorithm takes into account "physical properties" of each interactive widget on the surface. Since their algorithm operates in real-time, constant update functions need to be called (refreshing and updating positions of widgets being interacted with, for instance). Also, the authors noticed that after about a minute, the magnets get hot individually. So if the temperature of a single magnet ever exceeds a certain temperature, it gets to "take a break" while another one is substituted in for it to do its work.
- Results: While there were no studies conducted, trial runs, participant surveys, or anything of the sort, the authors pioneered ways to incorporate feedback mechanisms to ensure the proper use of the Madgets technology. Whenever a user drags an object, the Madgets board provides vibration feedback. Whenever a user turns a knob, switch, or adjusts a level for any widget, the Madget board provides resistance feedback (say if you tried to turn the volume past 100%). Whenever a user pushes a button down (seemingly), the area will provide vibration feedback.
- Content: The authors set out to create a new technology by building on an existing one. They saw that interactive surfaces could be improved upon and so they took advantage of it. By providing details about the proper construction and implementation of their Madgets board, the authors showed what is possible for "upgraded widget technology".
I think this is kind of neat, but like with past papers dealing with similar issues regarding needing a specialized board for use, this can be cumbersome to construct/have around taking up space. I did like the unique interactions that this board allows you to make with the general purpose widgets, however. Also, the algorithms and thought processes going into the underlying algorithm into making the board work flawlessly was genius. I just would have never thought that magnets would overheat or markers would go out of bounds, etc...I give these guys some respect for that. Again, I don't see myself using this kind of technology ever, but there could be some fields where this could be used and expanded upon. The authors, in my opinion, definitely achieved their goals by creating this board and showcasing it to the public via their publication. I believe if they had tested it outside of their working group that they could have a more solid foundation for seeing if their product is satisfactory based on a user-satisfaction scale.
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