Location

MIT Media Lab, E15-341

Description

Recent advances in display technologies have moved computing onto physical surfaces, such as through projections and see-through screens. There is an opportunity to create an intuitive way to incorporate and share content generated on physical media within these systems. Pen and paper have been an effective communication medium for thousands of years and continue to be one of the most popular means to create even in the digital era. Although existing collaborative systems have successfully integrated handwriting and sketches, they usually require complicated set-up such as additional cameras embedded under the table, the use of special paper, or switching devices in order to share and manipulate. This thesis explores new affordances for pens that they become an interface to a) transfer paper content onto selected surfaces in the surroundings through gestures; b) exploit the affordance of pens to augment remote objects with local content creation; c) enable users to create and transform static drawings on paper into an animated expression; d) maintain privacy for content creation while allowing users to selectively share only chosen content in real-time. A series of usability study were designed and conducted to evaluate the platforms and to explore how people may expand physical content beyond the boundaries of paper with the system. Potential applications range from collaborative workspaces to participatory art experiences. Issues relating to creative process, sharing privacy, and usability are examined in light of the interactive nature of the systems.

Host/Chair: Kent Larson

Participant(s)/Committee

Pattie Maes, William Porter