Paper Reading#11 Multitoe

Authors: Augsten, Konstantin Kaefer, Rene Meusel, Caroline Fetzer, Dorian Kanitz, Thomas Stoff, Torsten Becker, Christian Holz, and Patrick Baudisch

Occupation: Thomas Augsten and Konstantin Kaefer- pursuing Masters degree at the University of Potsdamn Christian Holz- PhD student in HCI, University of Potsdamn.
Patrick Baudisch - professor in Computer Science at the Hasso Plattner Institute

Rene Meusel, Caroline Fetzer, Dorian Kanitz, Thomas Stoff, and Torsten Becker- students at the Hasso Plattner Institute

Location: Published in UIST '10 Proceedings of the 23nd annual ACM symposium New York

Summary:

Hypothesis

By creating a interface with a larger surface area and by using feet as interaction, the author believes that the touchscreen size limitation can be more easily over come.

Methods

There were 3 studies conducted in general:

determining how users interact with the floor, understanding the idea and how users step and select controls, and determining how users utilize the limited hotspot area, and finding the correct size the user can interact with.

1^st study-

participants activated buttons, methods, and techniques. Activation technique was also used for invoking menus. This experiment helped distinguish whether the user was talking or standing.

2^nd study-

Participants used a honeycomb grid and were asked which buttons on the honeycomb should be pressed based on the foot position of the users.

3^rd study-

participants placed their foot so that the hotspot was located directly under them. The participants were given 4 different conditions in which the foot should act. (ball of the hell, big toe, tip of toe, free choice)

4^th study-

This was done by having the participants type words out with their feet on keyboard set ups

Results

1^st study

From the Methods conducted the authors saw that there was a wide choice of actions and techniques used by the participants. Some of the successful techniques used included stomping, jumping, double tapping. It was also seem that jumping was most successful when attempting to invoke the menu.

2^nd study

it was found that most users were inclined to think that the entirety of the shoe sole should be used when selecting. The responses regarding the outer lining of the shoe usage was varied however.

3^rd study

the authors found that the user perception of where the hotspot would be was widely varied for the free choice style

4^th study

The author saw that there was a inverse relationship between size of button and rate of error

Content

The paper talked about the usage of touch based interaction using one's feet when using devices. The paper it self mainly focuses on the point of how the users perception and how they might think. It also talked about what kind of positioning or style should be employed to make it easier on the users.

Discussion

I personally thought the whole idea itself was neat since it is some what new. However in terms of practical usage I can't really say it would be that useful. This is mostly because I don't think that utilizing such a method of interaction would increase our productivity or provide a more effective means of doing something.