Paper Reading #12: Multitoe: High-Precision Interaction with Back-Projected Floors Based on High-Resolution Multi-Touch Input (UIST 20)

Comments
http://stuartjchi.blogspot.com/2011/03/paper-reading-12-multitoe-high.html 
http://shennessy11.blogspot.com/2011/03/paper-reading-12.html 

Reference Information

   Title: Multitoe: High-Precision Interaction with Back-Projected Floors Based on High-Resolution Multi-Touch Input

   Author: Thomas Augsten

   Publisher: UIST' 10, October 3-6, 2010 New York

Summary
The researchers in this paper are wishing for a greater use of large multitouch gestures. Typically large multitouch gestures take place on tables. This however is limited by the reach of the user and number of people that can fit around the table. The designers wish to use a multitouch floor, controlled by a user's feet.


They discuss their trials in figuring out how users should interact with a floor that projects commands and feedback. There are many gestures such as walking, tapping, jumping, etc that are easy to detect but hard to determine intent. With something as natural as walking, users should only interact with the floor intentionally.


They also examined the effectiveness of a varying size of virtual keyboards. The researchers also went on to try and "identify" users based on their footprints. There are differing levels of distinguishability such as sole, pressure, posture, and rhythm. Users can create ID's and be paired in that sense.


Discussion
This was an interesting article but at times it was hard to follow. I think that the intent of the researchers was quite good, although I fail to see the practicality of such a venture. They discuss the limits of a multitouch table, but one of the biggest limits I currently see is PRICE. Microsoft Surface is what, $10,000? How much is this floor thing going to cost? How's it going to run? What's it going to run? Where's it going to run?


I think a cool thing to research may be a device identifying a user's heartbeat and establishing account specificity based on that. Like if you come to a computer something will read your heart rhythm and log you in to your account that way.