Paper Reading #27 - TeslaTouch

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References:
Title: TeslaTouch, Electrovibration for Touch Surfaces
Authors: Olivier Bau, Ivan Poupyrev, Ali Israr, Chris Harrison
Venue: UIST '10, Oct. 3-6 2010.

Summary:
In this paper, the authors describe a method of generating tactile feedback on touch screens using only electricity. This technology, which requires no moving parts, can generate very realistic touch sensations when the user moves their hand across the touch screen.

The authors first describe how the technology works and what they used to test the technology. TeslaTouch works by using the position-sensing driver to send electrical signals across an insulating coating on the surface. As the finger moves across the surface, an attractive force is generated that feels like friction to the user. To test the technology, the authors placed the coating on a 3M multitouch table, shown above.

They then test how people react to the tactile feedback generated by the technology. They found that they were able to generate a variety of feelings in the users by slightly changing the frequency of the electrical signals. They also found that users can feel this feedback at the same level as normal vibration technology.

They then describe why this technology is better than current haptic vibration interfaces. Some of the reasons they cite are that: it's silent, it can uniformly generate touch over the entire surface and it has no mechanical motion. However, traditional haptic vibration can generate stronger feelings than this system.

Discussion:
I am really excited by the prospect of this technology. I have thought for years that touch screens need better touch feedback to truly work as well as traditional inputs, especially when doing similar tasks like keyboarding. I really want to try this system myself, because it apparently generates very real touch experiences.

I have two main concerns with this system, however. For multitouch surfaces, I am curious whether TeslaTouch can generate two different tactile sensations at once. If it can't, it's not a big deal, but it could decrease the realistic feel of the screen. Second, in the pictures above, you can see that the image appears to be slightly blurry. If the resistive layer causes the image to be less sharp, then in order for this technology to be practical they need to find a better coating.

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Paper Reading #26 - Critical Gameplay

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References:
Title: Critical Gameplay: Software Studies in Computer Gameplay
Author: Lindsay D. Grace
Venue: CHI 2010, April 10-15, 2010

Summary:
In this paper, the author describes tried-and-true game mechanics, and then shows games that defy these mechanics. The objective of this research is to both show the game design aspects that common today, but also to show what game mechanics have been unexplored in the industry today.

The first mechanic is friend-or-foe identification. She says that most games allow the player to quickly identify enemies by appearance. To counter this, she shows the game at right, called black and white. In this game, enemies and friends are the same color, and the player must instead identify by behavior instead of appearance.

She then continues by describing games that use mechanics like collection, violence, and rushing through the game and then shows counterexamples that instead demonstrate frugality, nonviolence, and calm observation.

Discussion:
I thought this paper was cool because it took all of the games that I am used to playing and turned them around. Some of the mechanics, for example trying to avoid item collection, sounded like they would be really interesting to play.

Interestingly enough, I have actually seen a game lately in which you actually have to observe behavior over appearance, and it got really great reviews. So, I am actually interested in seeing if some of these other mechanics might be used in games to make them even more original.

(Image courtesy of: this paper)

Book Reading #8 - Living with Complexity

References:
Title: Living with Complexity
Author: Donald A. Norman
Editor: Julie Norman, 2011

Summary:
In this book, Donald Norman attempts to support complexity in our daily lives -- at least, when complexity is actually necessary.

He begins by discussing the double standard we have with complexity. In many older devices like musical instruments, we accept the complexity required to operate them -- especially if we are exposed when young. An example he uses is violins versus keyboards. Both have caused repetitive stress injuries to people who have used them, but people haven't sued violin companies over it, while people have sued keyboard makers.

Then, he discusses the psychological influences behind our perceptions of complexity. He mentions that often, an increase in outer simplicity leads to an increase in inner complexity. Furthermore, even though we often talk about how we like simplicity, devices with more features, and thus more complexity, actually sell better. He also talks about how even simple devices can become complex when there is a lack of standardization. For example, locks are simple devices, but since which direction is locked and unlocked isn't standardized, remembering which way to turn the lock is actually quite hard.

Finally, he briefly discusses how social influences can affect complexity. He shows how observing how someone uses an unknown device can assist you in learning it correctly. However, if they have a poor idea of how the device works their influence can be harmful.

Discussion:
This book was interesting because I find it odd that Norman is, in a way, stepping back from his early stances on design. In his early books, he seems to decry any complexity in devices, but in his last two we read, he seems to be far more accepting of small amounts of complexity in device designs.

I was also intrigued by the double standard he illustrated behind how people describe devices. I can't talk to anyone without hearing how today's devices are too complicated, but when device makers show more minimalist designs, they don't sell. I actually like maximum functionality when I buy things, and then just accept the cost of the learning curve.

(Image courtesy of: Hussman Funds)

Microblogs #10 - Living with Complexity

References:
Title: Living with Complexity
Author: Donald A. Norman
Editor: Julie Norman, 2011

Chapter #1:
Summary:
In this chapter, Norman describes his definition of complexity and how we sometimes actually like it. He talks about how for devices people get frustrated with only a small amount of difficulty. However, for devices like musical instruments, which are extremely complicated, people actually enjoy spending time learning.

Discussion:
I thought his point about the complexity of musical instruments was actually quite interesting. I never really thought about how I treated the complexity of musical instruments from other devices.


Chapter #2:
Summary:
In this chapter, Norman discusses how simplicity is more often something we perceive than is actually there. He talks about how simple outer interfaces mean more complex innards, as well as how simplicity never sells.

Discussion:
This chapter was interesting because I thought he comment on how complex things sell better was funny yet true. I always try to get hardware that has more features, but at the same time I am willing to take a learning curve. I am sure others do so while simultaneously asking for simplicity -- which, while not impossible like Norman says -- is certainly difficult.


Chapter #3:
Summary:
In this chapter, Norman describes how quickly simple objects can become complex. From doorknobs to books, lack of standardization and difficult organization can make complexity from simplicity. However, these problems can be fixed by additional organization and correct design.

Discussion:
This chapter was interesting because of the toilet paper example. When he started the first thing I thought of was having two rolls with one restricted, but I liked hearing about why having two open rolls was a bad idea. I think this example was the best way to illustrate his point.


Chapter #4:
Summary:
In this chapter, Norman describes what he calls social signifiers -- or affordances created through the influences of others. From following other peoples' behaviors to the influences of culture, how we use and perceive an object and its state can be heavily affected by how others do.

Discussion:
This main thing that interested me in this chapter was his example of a computer program that created wear and tear on heavily used objects. I thought this was a great, natural way of displaying this information that I would never have thought of until I heard it.

Book Reading #7 - Why We Make Mistakes

References:
Title: Why We make Mistakes
Author: Joseph T. Hallinan
Editor: Donna Sinisgalli, 2009

Summary:
In this book, Joseph Hallinan describes the psychological reasons behind why people make mistakes.

In each of the main thirteen chapters, Hallinan describes an error we have in our ways of thinking that causes us to make mistakes in our daily lives. Some of these include: skimming, believing we are above average, wearing rose-colored glasses, and multitasking. In each, he uses many different examples to illustrate not only how we make mistakes, but how the people and businesses around us manipulate these mistakes for their own gain.

Finally, in the conclusion, he describes some small changes we can make in our thought processes to fix many of these errors. The main one he provides is to "think small," that is, to pay attention to small details, since that is where most of these manipulators lie.

Discussion:
I really liked this book. Not only was each chapter entertaining to read, there was a significant amount I learned about how my mind works. Each chapter provided a lot of interesting questions that gave me something to think about during bus rides.

I really didn't think the solutions that he provided in the final chapter would be very useful, however. Many of the issues he describes in the book seem almost hard-wired to our psyches, so it is unlikely we could surpass them with any amount of self-training. Then again, thinking that way might be a mistake.

(Image courtesy of: Humanology)

Paper Reading #25 - Email Overload

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References:
Title: Agent-Assisted Task Management that Reduces Email Overload
Author: Andrew Faulring, Brad Myers, Ken Mohnkern, Bradley Schmerl, Aaron Steinfeld, John Zimmerman, Asim Smailagic, Jeffery Hansen, and Daniel Siewiorek
Venue: IUI 2010, Feb. 7-10 2010

Summary:
In this paper, the authors describe a new mail system that uses AI to divide e-mails into a selection of tasks. They then show that this very different method provides positive results.

They begin by describing the intricacies of the task system. When e-mails enter the inbox, an AI assistant parses the e-mails and tries to figure out what classification the task should lie under. Then, it chooses to either place it into a classification or place it in an area where the user can choose.

In addition, the e-mail client also provides a scheduling interface, which also includes an AI assistant. The AI assistant looks through the e-mail tasks and assigns what it believes to be a good amount of time for each, and prioritizes the user's future schedule. The user can then choose what tasks they are working on.

They then show the results of using this system on productivity. People using this system with the AI task assistant and e-mail assistant tend to get more meaningful tasks done than those who do not. With only the e-mail assistant, users get more overall tasks done, but they get less important tasks done.

Discussion:
I was actually quite excited about this research. The idea of having a small AI assisting me with my tasks seems like a really cool, sci-fi idea. Additionally, even at this stage, it seems to be working well, so I hope they can actually bring this to market soon.

One concern I have with the software is that they do not describe how configuration will work. I am curious if in a final design if there will be editable categories, or if because of how the AI works, there will only be preset task categories.

(Image courtesy of: Download Software)

Paper Reading #24 - Finding Your Way

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References:
Title: Finding Your Way in a Multi-dimensional Semantic Space with Luminoso
Authors: Robert Speer, Catherine Havasi, Nichole Treadway, and Henry Lieberman
Venue: IUI 2010, Feb. 7-10 2010

Summary:
In this paper, the authors describe a program called Luminoso that provides an interface for parsing text input and displaying it.

The Luminoso system displays the relations between text sets in N-dimensions. These dimensions are first created by finding the occurrences of words in each document, and then analyzing the meanings of each of the highest words. Then, the system gathers the words with similar meanings, and assigns a dimension to each gathering.

To examine the data, the program defines the interface above. The lines connect the words related to the current selection. The colors define how "hot" a particular relation is, from white being highest, down to red. The user can navigate by selecting a particular point and then rotating into the semantic dimension you want.

Discussion:
While I think it's important to be able to quickly navigate through text to find what you need for situations like surveys, I don't think that this is the best navigation method. The concept of n-dimensionality is confusing to start with, but when you add in the abstractness of the data you will be sorting through using these dimensions, and I would feel completely lost.

Also, this paper mentions a lot of sorting and data modification methods without defining them, so in many cases I was unable to understand the backbone behind how the system worked. I think they probably would have done better to lengthen the paper and add some short definitions for each term.

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