How do we interact with computers: I/O Devices

Objectives

By the end of class you will be able to… •  Select appropriate input and output

devices for a given application and justify your choice

•  Critique the design & appropriateness of interface devices

•  Design custom I/O devices.

What type of input would you use for a…

•  Text messaging on a cell phone or PDA •  Tennis computer - to record the current

score and final score for each game / set / match

•  Toddler’s math video game •  3D computer aided design system •  Urban planning system

Entering text on small devices

Spatial Input - 2D Which are direct? Which are indirect?

Spatial Input - 3D

Gesture

Eyegaze Tracking as Input

Tangible Interfaces more tangible interfaces

http://modin.yuri.at/tangibles/?list=1

Designers’ Outpost http://guir.berkeley.edu/projects/outpost/

Illuminating Clay http://tangible.media.mit.edu/projects/illuminatingclay/

Output: What form of output would you use to…

•  Indicate your current spatial location in a video game

•  Indicate to a security guard that an unauthorized person attempted access to a secured room

•  Notify desktop user that they have a new email message (when mail is minimized)

•  Notify intensive care nurse of a patient’s low heart rate

•  Allow 4 children to play a video game together

Output methods

•  Digital Screen / graphics •  Sound •  Simple output (LED, buzzer, etc) •  Others…

Heads up display

Tank Pressure

Depth

Stereo and Virtual Reality

Display without screen

“Sixth Sense”, MIT

Large screen & tabletop displays

From Petra Isenberg (U of Calgary)

Microsoft Surface 2

Multi-screen experience

Factors influencing I/O Design

•  User characteristics (dexterity, preference) •  Ergonomics (position of user, other

equipment, RSI) •  Task properties (parallel tasks, need for

efficiency, need for accuracy, time user will spend on system)

•  Environment (robustness, space constraints)

Does it matter? Yes!! Poor design decisions kill!

Air crash 1992, Air Inter Flight 148, Airbus A320