NAP

FINAL INTERFACE PROJECT part 3

THE FALL 08 FINAL INTERFACE PROJECT DESIGN BRIEF
UROS OTASEVIC



Description
My final project for the Interface class is about experimenting with methods of improving already highly advanced hand-held smart devices user experience. It is not easy task to make significant advancements in the field that is exponentially improving for the last 20 years. However, I still believe there is room for improvement and think that with several enhancements we could considerably advance overall usability and efficiency. In the age of great technology advancements in all technology fields (mainly wi-fi,newly developed micro LED projectors, fast low-power consuming processors, powerful infrared and ultrasonic sensor) these research project goals are becoming feasible and realistic.


Design Questions

First I will try to discover the through behind existing products interfaces (mobile phones, PDA's, mp3 players) and by that i mean why it was designed the way it is, what could have been used to improve experience and why it wasn't used. Secondly, i will focus on the main drawbacks of the existing devices and lastly i will try to answer to this challenges.


Area of my focus will be the:

* possibility of using human body as an interface
* using image projection instead of typical screens
* advance voice commands
* improving still awkward text input interfaces
* using in-build camera or sensor for gesture based interactivity
* investigating the possibility of modular approach


Schedule

* 1st week - Research (past, present and future relevant technologies; filtering what would be useful for my project; understanding why some good concepts failed and why other succeeded; analyzing trends; search for future technologies; understanding consumer needs, expectations, complaints etc... )


* 2nd week - Conceptualizing (development start; concept based on collected data analysis; incorporating most interesting, relevant and efficient ideas)


* 3rd week - Designing (building first prototypes; starting with sketches, 3d modeling, analysis, fine tuning, testing, and finally making physical cardboard prototype)


Precedents

* Wii Remote - The Wii Remote is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via movement and pointing through the use of accelerometer and optical sensor technology.


* TrackIR - TrackIR is an optical motion tracking system created by Natural Point Inc. It is a game controller that captures head motions with six degrees of freedom and translates them into mouse/cursor movements.


* IPhone - The iPhone is an internet-connected multimedia smart-phone designed and marketed by Apple with a multitouch screen and a minimal hardware interface. The device does not have a physical keyboard, so a virtual keyboard is rendered on the touch screen.



Summary

My project is a quest to make the most advanced mobile device user interface. It is designed for everyone since mobile devices became an integral part of every human being life. It is designed to increase the speed and quality of human-device interaction. Among the technologies that i will explore are: Infrared and ultrasonic sensors, micro LED projectors and voice recognition.

Testin

Good news for my final project

Konica Minolta prepping thumbdrive-sized projector

It was inevitable, really. With outfits like Dell and 3M taking projectors to a whole 'nother (tiny) level, it was just a matter of time before someone else came along and made those pico projectors look gigantic. Enter Konica Minolta, who is reportedly developing a projector that's just 1.6- x 0.79- x 0.3-inches, or slightly smaller than your average flash drive. The unit will supposedly use lasers, mirrors and black magic instead of light bulbs and lenses, and it'll still be capable of beaming out a 20-inch XGA color image from a distance of just under two feet....

Some more visual delight

Top gear 2 from Uros Otasevic on Vimeo.

Little video/audio mess i created for your viewing pleasure :)

Logo experimentation from Uros Otasevic on Vimeo.

Fine tunning final project theme

THE FALL 08 INTERFACE PROJECT PAPER SYNOPSIS
Uros Otasevic



My final project for the Interface class is about exploring and experimenting with different possible methods of improving already highly advanced hand held smart devices user experience. It is not easy task to make significant advancements in the field that is exponentially improving for the last 20 years. However, I still believe there is room for improvement and think that with several enhancements we could considerably advance overall usability and efficiency.
Area of my focus will be the possibility of using human body as an interface, exploring the idea of merging computer devices with our bodies, using image projection instead of typical screens and improving still awkward text input interfaces and investigating the possibility of modular approach.
In the age of great technology advancements an all technology fields, including wi-fi and newly developed micro LED projectors, these research project goals are becoming feasible and realistic.

The main purpose of this research paper would be to find a way to get rid of mobile devices that we need to carry around and integrate them with ourselves but in most convenient way without causing any inconvenience while significantly improving overall user experience and efficiency.

Final project idea 2

While i was pondering PDI (see previous blog entree) i remembered something i was dreaming about long time ago(as everyone else). How to make personal computers mobile and hands-free... I was never happy with hand-held devices. Small screens, awkward and demanding to use.

In the age of wireless, micro projectors, highly efficient rechargeable batteries etc, the idea is becoming feasible.

a small box containing complete computer mounted around waist (maybe shoulder) with integrated projector, wireless connection and optical cable that connects to head (ear) mounted
devices that has lens for projecting picture in front of user (optical cable is transferring picture projector) , several sensors for distance in order to focus projected picture, and standard cell phone like features like microphone and earphones...

While i'm still thinking about the ways to input text and control the graphics interface, one of the ways is using some kind of glove with strategical placed letters together with sensors... there are already similar prototypes...

So overall, the goal is to get rid of mobile devices that we need to carry around and integrate them with ourselves but in most convenient way without causing any annoyance...

PDI Final project idea

During the class i presented the idea of combining work on the computer and physical exercise. Before we used personal computers only for work and maybe some entertaining. Nowadays, we are moving remaining activities (social activities, readings etc, watching movies, listening music, playing games etc) on pc meaning that we now spend almost whole days sitting passively in front of computer screen. Our bodies are obviously not design for that and thus our bodies suffer.

The solution is physically demanding interface! PDI

Public Space - Interaction

Public space - Interaction from Uros Otasevic on Vimeo.

After some final presentation controversy here is the final video that shows how people interacted with our installation.

Working in group is new thing for me and I'm still trying to find the right recipe for it to work.

Public Space - Making of

Public space - Making of from Uros Otasevic on Vimeo.