Communications of the ACM
Skintrack Technology Turns Arm Into Smartwatch Touchpad
Researchers in the Futures Group of Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute have developed a wearable technology that enables continuous touch tracking on a user's hands and arms.
Credit: CMU News
The Future Interfaces Group at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) has developed SkinTrack, a wearable technology that enables continuous touch tracking on the user's hands and arms.
Whereas earlier "skin to screen" designs have used flexible overlays, interactive textiles, and projector/camera combinations, SkinTrack requires users to wear a ring that transmits a low-energy, high-frequency signal through the skin when the finger touches or nears the skin surface.
"SkinTrack makes it possible to move interactions from the screen onto the arm, providing a much larger interface," says HCII professor Chris Harrison.
The source of the electromagnetic waves can be localized via electrodes integrated into a smartwatch strap, which pick up the waves' varying phases.
The researchers found they could determine when the finger was touching the skin with 99% accuracy. They also could resolve the location of the touches with an average error of 7.6mm.
Demonstrated uses of SkinTrack include as a game controller, a drawing implement, and a tool for scrolling through lists on a smartwatch.
The researchers will present the technology next week at the ACM CHI 2016 conference in San Jose, CA.
From CMU News
View Full Article
Abstracts Copyright © 2016 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
No entries found