Surface computing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:47, 23 April 2015

Revision as of 03:00, 23 April 2015

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'''Surface computing''' is the use of a specialized [[computer]] [[GUI]] in which traditional GUI elements are replaced by intuitive, everyday objects. Instead of a [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] and [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]], the user interacts with a surface. Typically the surface is a [[touchscreen|touch-sensitive screen]], though other surface types like non-flat 3Dthree-dimensional objects have been implemented as well. It has been said that this more closely replicates the familiar hands-on experience of everyday object manipulation.<ref>[http://what-is-what.com/what_is/microsoft_surface.html What is the Microsoft Surface? - What the Microsoft Surface computer is, and how it works]</ref><ref>[http://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-multitouch-laptop,5309.html Teenager Creates First OS X Multi-touch Table]</ref>

Early work in this area was done at the University of Toronto, Alias Research, and MIT.<ref>http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html</ref> Surface work has included customized solutions from vendors such as [http://LM3LABS.com LM3LABS] or GestureTek, Applied Minds for [[Northrop Grumman]].<ref>[http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/products/touchtable/index.html Applied Minds & Northrop Grumman]</ref> Major computer vendor platforms are in various stages of release: the iTable by PQLabs,<ref>[http://multi-touch-screen.net/ PQLabs]</ref> [[Linux MPX]],<ref>[http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/touch-me/linux-mpx-multi+touch-table-may-become-free-diy-microsoft-surface-one-day-278613.php Linux MPX Multitouch]</ref> the [[Ideum]] [[MT-50 Multitouch Table|MT-50]], interactive bar by spinTOUCH, and [[Pixelsense|Microsoft PixelSense]] (formerly known as Microsoft Surface).

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==== Display ====

Displays for Surface Computing can range from [[LCD]] and [[Projection]] screens to physical object surfaces. Alternatively, an augmented reality headset may be used to display images on real-world objects. Displays can be divided into single-viewpoint and multi-viewpoint displays. Single-viewpoints include any flat screen or surface where viewing is typically done from one angle. A multi-viewpoint display would include any three-dimensional object surface like a sphere or cylinder that allows viewing from any angle.<ref name=":0" />

==== Projectors ====

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==== Infrared Cameras ====

Infrared or [[Thermographic]] cameras are used to facilitate gestural detection. Unlike digital cameras, infrared cameras operate independent of light, instead relying on the heat signature of an object. This is beneficial because it allows for gesture detection in all lighting conditions. However, cameras are victimsubject to occlusion by other objects that may result in a loss of gesture tracking. Infrared cameras are most common in three-dimensional implementations.

==Interaction Methods==

Various methods of interaction exist in surface computing. The most common method of which is touch based, this includes single and multi-touch interactions. Other interactions exist such as freehand 3D interactions that depth-aware cameras can sense.

•'''Two Dimensional''' Typically, traditional surface types are two-dimensional and only require two-dimensional touch interactions. Depending on the system, multi-touch gestures, such as [[pinch to zoom]], are supported. These gestures allow the user to manipulate what they see on the surface by physically touching it and moving their fingers them across the surface. For sufficiently large surfaces, multi-touch gestures can extend to both hands, and even multiple sets of hands in multi-user applications.

•'''Three Dimensional''' Using depth aware cameras it is possible to make three dimensional gestures. Such gestures allow the user to move in three dimensions of space without having to come into contact with the surface itself, such as the methods used in [[DepthTouch]].<ref name=":1">[http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/benko/publications/2009/benko_mm09bnt236.pdf Beyond Flat Surface Computing: Challenges of Depth-Aware and Curved Interfaces]</ref>

==Applications==