Pervasive CheckersPervasive Checkers

Johnny L. HopkinsLynn Marentette

May 7, 2007ITIS 6410: Ubiquitous Computing

Dr. Heather Richter

StatementStatement

“The world is NOT a desktop- Mark Weisner

OutlineOutlineInspirationWho uses tabletop interfacesDesignIssues with projectWhat we learned

InspirationInspirationFishPong (Yoon et al 2004)

◦Wanted to see if this concept could be extended to a typical childhood game-Checkers

◦Wanted to see if the XNA Framework and the Xbox 360 could be extended to interactive tables

◦Wanted to explore the application of interactive tables for game design and development, which would revolutionize gaming as we know it to be.

Inspiration: FishPongInspiration: FishPong

Visions of UseVisions of Use

Visions of UseVisions of Use

Current: Megatouch (Bars Current: Megatouch (Bars and Nightclubs)and Nightclubs)

Current: TouchFoilCurrent: TouchFoil

Who Makes These Who Makes These Interfaces?Interfaces?

PanasonicToshibaPhilipsMitsubishiNextWindowSMART Technologies

Next Window: Human TouchNext Window: Human TouchOperating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Mac OS and Linux.

Calibration: Four-point calibration required when the touch screen is

powered up for the first time.

Mouse Functionality

Full mouse functionality: click, drag, double-click and right-click. Double-click and right-click timers can be controlled independently from the operating system.

Applications Software Point anywhere Operates drawing, spreadsheet, presentation programs Draw, write, move/edit objects and scroll through menus Spin and rotate objects with your fingers or hand

NextWindow's Optical Touch Screen NextWindow's Optical Touch Screen Technology: How does it work?Technology: How does it work?

“NextWindow's optical touch screen technology uses two line scanning cameras located at the corners of the screen. The cameras track the movement of any object close to the surface by detecting the interruption of an infra-red light source. The light is emitted in a plane across the surface of the screen and can be either active (infra-red LED) or passive (special reflective surfaces).”

NextWindow 2403 Camera Block

A circuit board called the the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) receives signals from the cameras and runs software that compensates for optical distortions. It triangulates the position of the finger (or any object) extremely accurately.

Surface NextWindow's glass touch surface overlays the display surface. System uses optical technology, no special surface coatings are required. Clear image with a clear glass touch surface Touch registers just before the finger or object actually touches the surface.

http://www.nextwindow.com/

A Range of Possibilities:

1900 Miniature Touch Frame ◦ uses low profile cameras mounted on the surface of the glass.

1803 Through Glass◦ locates the cameras behind glass for security purposes.

2800 Rugged Touch Frame ◦ uses precision alloy camera blocks rigidly mounted in a steel frame.

All models: ◦ infrared light source and scanning cameras are synchronized with

an algorithm, that eliminates ambient light effects.

NextWindow's Two Main Categories:

Touch panel overlays for existing LCD or plasma screens. Interactive touch frames for integration into manufacturers'

display models.

Design IDesign I

Design IIDesign II

Issues IIssues IThe Xbox 360 is not ready for

interactive displays just yet, but the XNA Framework has been used in the design of the Wiimote API

The current version of the XNA Framework does not have any classes to do interactive displays yet

Columbia University has come out with an API (GoblinXNA) to do pervasive computing with the XNA Framework

Issues IIIssues IIMany of the touch tables we

looked at in our research were high-level prototypes

The places that will create these tables for you often constrain you to their specifications and software packages

What We LearnedWhat We LearnedTouch table technology is still

relatively newIt is important to paper prototype

any table-based interfaceFor interactive table top games,

game design principles must be “tweaked” to fit these new interfaces

The tables produced by the major electronics manufacturers are not out on the market yet, they are prototypes

QuestionsQuestions