Alternative Input Devices

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2008 Horizon.au Short List

2008 Horizon.au Short List pdf.gif

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years

Critical Challenges

Key Trends

Time-to-Adoption: Two to Three Years

All around us, new interaction devices are changing the way we communicate with computers and other technology. First appearing in the gaming world, the Nintendo Wii and its “wand” controller broke away from the traditional handheld controller and keyboard/mouse models. Apple’s iPhone, and the emerging table-sized Microsoft Surface, broke similar barriers in the realm of interactive displays with their multi-touch screen-based controls. These two innovations – accelerometer-based devices and multi-touch screens – allow users to manipulate content intuitively, using natural gestures like flicking the wrist or sweeping the fingertips over a display.

Accelerometer-based devices use speed, direction, and momentum as inputs. The Wii-mote (the controller for the Wii) acts like an extension of the body, conveying arm gestures to the device’s sensors. Other devices like the Wii Balance Board detect body posture, allowing the system to react to the user’s entire body and enabling the simulation of physics concepts and principles of motion through kinesthetic experience. Large multi-touch displays also open up possibilities for collaborative activity; only one person can use a mouse, but the Surface responds to several users at the same time.

Relevance for Teaching, Learning & Creative Expression

  • Portable devices, especially those that can be used with one hand, increase the user’s mobility, enabling research like data capture and analysis to be done in the field.
  • Multi-sensory input devices like the ones mentioned here engage the user on multiple levels, creating more immersive experiences for learners.
  • Input devices that behave like instruments or artists’ materials enhance the transfer of real-world skills to computer-assisted music and art, enabling artists to experiment with a wider range of forms for creative expression.

Examples

For Further Reading

Accelerometer
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerometer
(Wikipedia.) This article describes accelerometers and lists some applications for them, including the Wii and several mobile phones that use the technology.

Multi-touch
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-touch
(Wikipedia.) This article discusses the history of multi-touch technology and describes recent developments.

Top15 Interactive Display Technologies
http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/top-15-interactive-display-technologies/
(Naveen, Gizmo Watch, 15 May 2007.) This article lists fifteen interactive display technologies, including tabletop and wall-mounted multi-touch screens.


Sandbox Discussion (July-August 2008)

All around us, new interaction devices are changing the way we communicate with computers and other technology. In the gaming world, the Nintendo Wii and its “wand” controller broke away from the traditional handheld controller that still clings to the joystick interface. Apple’s iPhone broke the same barriers in the realm of mobile devices with its multi-touch screen-based controls. Other devices like RFID tags and small, portable readers tackle the input problem from the other side, making pre-encoded information very easy to pull in with just a quick scan. These and other new ways to capture data have applications for mobile learning.


Why is this topic relevant to teaching, learning or creative expression?

  • Multi-sensory input devices, such as the Apple iPhone, engage with a wider variety of senses, and thereby have the capacity to create more affective and immersive experiences, for learners.
  • Creates greater mobility for learning particularly where data capture and analysis can be done in situ.


Please list links to local or international projects that are experimenting with or implementing this technology.

  • Bruce Thomas of the The Wearable Computer Lab at the University of South Australia has a long history of working in novel user interface technologies in both the wearable computers and the ubiquitous computer domain. They are investigating new user interface technologies to support remote collaboration between users internationally. http://www.wearables.unisa.edu.au/ [SA]
  • Tobii ATI- a variety of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices: Tobii ATI
  • RNIB Surf Right ToolbarThe Surf Right Toolbar is a free download designed to make adjusting these options within Internet Explorer quicker and easier, using either the mouse or keyboard. It is not intended to be a developer toolbar for testing accessibility, Surf Right is for end users, people who have difficulty using the IE browser accessibility options and want to customise the page.- RNIB toolbar
  • Wii Fit Workout Program: from teach42 Education and Technology blog by Steve Dembo. Wii Workout
  • Dr Michael Bulmer, School of Physical Sciences - anonymous feedback for his courses via SMS text messaging (is this too local and too yesterday? i feel i'm so far behind, Lydia)
  • KDDI's au design project creates cellphones that double as instruments "enlisting the help of Yamaha to develop some cellphones that double as musical instruments. That includes the self-explanatory "Strings for fingers" and "Sticks in the air" concepts pictured above, as well as the "Box to play" synth / scratch pad combo, the "Key to touch" foldable keyboard, the "Trio in your hand" scratch pad / sampler, and the "Band in my pocket" device, which accommodates a number of accessories to create instruments ranging from a harmonica to a trumpet." http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/19/kddis-au-design-project-creates-cellphones-that-double-as-instr/
  • add your project link here [LJ]


Please provide links to any local or international reports, papers, or articles that either help define the topic, or that provide detailed information about it.

  • Special keyboards for Special Needs- Article by Ian C. Brown in the Australian Journal of Educational Technology 1987, 3(1), 67-74. special keyboards
  • Investigating the Potential of Touchscreen Technology in Early Childhood Education-Paper by Dr Geoff Romeo, Ms Suzy Edwards, Dr Sue McNamara, Dr Ian Walker, Dr Christopher Ziguras,Faculty of Education, Monash University. "This paper reports on a research project which investigated children’s use of touchscreens in early childhood and junior primary settings by introducing touchscreens in five classrooms in Melbourne." Touchscreen Technology
  • Educating The 21st Century Citizen- by Diana Crew in The Catalyst, Spring 2004 21st Cent
  • Flash And Accessibility- Roger Hudson, November 2003 Flash & Accessibility
  • The trouble with computers Sep 6th 2007 from The Economist print edition Computing: They may be powerful, but computers could still be easier to use. Might new forms of interface help? http://www.economist.com/search/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9719037
  • add your resource link here [LJ]


Please add any other information that may be helpful to the staff as they write up this topic.

  • add your idea or information here [LJ]
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