Traditional methods of input on mobile devices are cumbersome and difficult to use. Devices have become smaller, while their operating systems have become more complex, to the extent that they are approaching the level of functionality found on desktop computer operating systems. The buttons and toggle-sticks currently employed by mobile devices are a relatively poor replacement for the keyboard and mouse style user interfaces used on their desktop computer counterparts. For example, when looking at a screen image on a device, we should be able to move the device to the left to indicate we wish the image to be panned in the same direction.
This research investigates a new input model based on the natural hand motions and reactions of users. The model developed by this work uses the generic embedded video cameras available on almost all current-generation mobile devices to determine how the device is being moved and maps this movement to an appropriate action.
Surveys using mobile devices were undertaken to determine both the appropriateness and efficacy of such a model as well as to collect the foundational data with which to build the model. Direct mappings between motions and inputs were achieved by analysing users' motions and reactions in response to different tasks.
Upon the framework being completed, a proof of concept was created upon the Windows Mobile Platform. This proof of concept leverages both DirectShow and Direct3D to track objects in the video stream, maps these objects to a three-dimensional plane, and determines device movements from this data.
This input model holds the promise of being a simpler and more intuitive method for users to interact with their mobile devices, and has the added advantage that no hardware additions or modifications are required the existing mobile devices.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/265548 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Richards, Mark Andrew |
| Publisher | Queensland University of Technology |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright Mark Andrew Richards |
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