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Designing Gestural Interfaces
book

Designing Gestural Interfaces

by Dan Saffer
November 2008
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
272 pages
9h 16m
English
O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Content preview from Designing Gestural Interfaces

POINT TO SELECT/ACTIVATE

WHAT

Pointing with a finger or an object either turns on (activates) an object or selects it for further manipulation.

USE WHEN

Use Point to Select/Activate to select objects on-screen or in the environment so that you can interact with them by sending commands to them.

WHY

Pointing is the most natural gesture for selection.

HOW

Point to Select/Activate requires the ability to detect the orientation of the user's hand. This can be accomplished via cameras or other means involving objects held in the hand (e.g., a remote control) or worn on the hand (e.g., a glove) that can indicate the position of the hand in relation to other objects (either in the environment or on-screen). In an environment, each object could have an individual sensor attached to it that detects when a hand is pointing at it (e.g., via a beam of infrared light).

EXAMPLES

The Wiimote works with a stationary sensor bar on top of the TV screen, allowing users to use the device to Point to Select items on-screen. Courtesy Herman Yung.

Figure 4-7. The Wiimote works with a stationary sensor bar on top of the TV screen, allowing users to use the device to Point to Select items on-screen. Courtesy Herman Yung.

Users can Point to Select items in retail store windows using the GestPoint system. Courtesy GestureTek.

Figure 4-8. Users can Point to Select items in retail store windows using the GestPoint system. Courtesy GestureTek.

Johnny Chung Lee demonstrating one of his infamous Wiimote hacks at the 2008 Maker Faire. Using an infrared "pen," users can, by pointing, select different drawing instruments and turn any wall into a virtual whiteboard. Courtesy Sebastian Heycke.

Figure 4-9. Johnny Chung Lee demonstrating one ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780596156756Errata