Paper #1: Shape-Changing Interfaces (Presentation Paper)

        For my first post with interesting information, I have put together a summary of Shape-Changing Interfaces: A Review of the Design Space and Open Research Questions, a paper co-authored by Majken K. Rasmussen at the Aarhus School of Architecture, Esben W. Pedersen and Kasper Hornbæk at the University of Copenhagen, and Marianne G. Petersen at Aarhus University.  This paper was presented at CHI 2012 in Austin, TX and a full list of this paper's references can be viewed here under the 'References' tab.

Author Bios:

• Majken K. Rasmussen (LinkedIn)
• Esben W. Pedersen (University of Copenhagen Website)
• Marianne G. Petersen (Aarhus University Website)
• Kasper Hornbæk (His Personal Website)

TL;DR (Summary):

        This team compiled the data from forty-four papers on shape change into one, centralized paper that discusses the ways in which shape-changing interfaces have been used in the past. Starting with the ways that interfaces change (Figure 1) including changes in "orientation, form, volume, texture, viscosity, spatiality, adding/subtracting, and permeability", and moving into the types of transformation (Figure 2 - parameters), including velocity, path, direction, and space.

Figure 1

From there, this paper describes how researchers have assigned traits and qualities to an objects' movements (Figure 2 - adjectives), which are divided into "qualities and personality traits". Qualities being more of a feeling or emotion (ex: pleasant or peaceful) and personality traits being a state of being (ex: relaxed or tired).  

Figure 2

Next, this paper describes the types of interactions between shape-changing devices and users (Figure 3): no interaction, indirect interaction, and direct interaction, described as interface to no one, interface to human, human to interface, or human to interface to human.

Figure 3

This paper concludes by discussing the purpose of shape change and how, at the moment, the interfaces are more hedonistic in nature, rather than practical, and that researchers need to make these interfaces more "human-centered" and design interfaces without taking building materials into consideration before they can really become useful.

Related Works:

        The related works I found on this subject confirmed the paper's views on research in that there is sufficient technology to build almost any shape-changing device imaginable and, therefore, researchers should not focus on the technology behind the projects, but the ideas regarding the interface, dealing with the technical details once an interface has been fully realized. This paper is not particularly novel, but the fact that it describes problems and presents possible ways to circumvent those problems makes it useful to researchers because of the aggregated data presented.

1. U.S. Patent Application 20110304550 - Auto-Morphing Adaptive User Interface Device and Methods
2. Blob Manipulation
3. Self-Assembly and Reconfigurability of Shape-Shifting Particles
4. Re-dispersible Anisotropic and Structured Nanoparticles: Formation and Their Subsequent Shape Change
5. Haptics using a smart material for eyes free interaction in mobile devices
6. Smart Material Interfaces: A New Form of Physical Interaction
7. Shape-Changing Interfaces
8. Haptic Chameleon: A New Concept of Shape-Changing User Interface Controls with Force Feedback
9. MimicTile: a variable stiffness deformable user interface for mobile devices
10. Thermally Active Structures for Shape Morphing Applications 

Evaluation:

        The team behind this paper evaluated the data from the forty-four other papers about shape-changing interfaces in a qualitative way by describing each interface in detail and explaining the problems that each interface had in common with all other shape-changing interfaces - that there is no real problem that shape-changing interfaces need to solve beyond entertainment and art. They used an objective approach by systemically presenting all major viewpoints from across the sample of papers without giving priority to any particular approach.

Discussion:

        The work described in this paper is very interesting and, given the right circumstances, could be a very useful in facilitating further research and possibly lead to a use for shape-changing interfaces outside the realm of entertainment and novelty. This paper's evaluation of shape-changing interface research is appropriate, but did lack data from fields where papers are not a primary publishing avenue. This paper is also novel in the fact that it aggregated data from many sources in a new way and tries to deal with some of the most pertinent problem preventing significant breakthroughs in shape-changing interfaces - the fact that there is no real use for them outside of novelty and entertainment. It also urges new researchers to weigh more heavily the user experience and not worry so much about the technology that goes into a particular device.

Entry #-0: Introduction

My introduction to the blogging world.

Photo: This is me on the big yellow school bus on the way to bonfire in '09.

Name: Patrick Cuming, Jr.

E-Mail: pcuming@tamu.edu

Class Standing: 5th year senior (Takin' a victory lap!)

Experience for the Class: The ability to read and form mostly-coherent thoughts on what I've read.

Professional Life Goals: Work in a Computer Science field for a while and eventually start my own company.

Personal Life Goals: Design and build a 'smart' house made almost entirely out of Corning smart glass.

After Graduation: Work in industry for 5-10 years.

In 10 Years: Starting my own company.

Next Big Advancement in CS: I'll think of something. Until then, I'll settle for a Steam Client for Linux.

If I Could Travel Back in Time and Meet Anyone: Probably Jesus. Or my past self. (Cop out?)

Favorite Shoes: Odd question, but boots are my favorite shoes because they are super comfortable. I only wish it weren't so hot outside all the time and I could wear them more often.

If I Could be Fluent in any Foreign Language: German, because most of my family is of German descent.

Interesting Fact: I can wiggle my ears either one at a time or both at the same time.